Kroger Appoints Former Walmart US Chief Greg Foran as New CEO
In a strategic move echoing its rival's playbook, grocery giant Kroger has announced the appointment of Greg Foran as its new chief executive officer. The decision, revealed on Monday, brings in a seasoned retail leader with extensive experience from Walmart and Air New Zealand to helm one of America's largest supermarket chains.
Strategic Hire Amid Intense Competition
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Kroger, which has been aggressively responding to Walmart Supercenters with its own Kroger Marketplaces. These general merchandise superstores are expanding in key regions such as Texas, Indiana, and West Virginia, signaling Kroger's ambition to compete more directly with Walmart's vast retail footprint.
Neil Saunders, managing director and retail expert at GlobalData, commented on the hire, stating, "The appointment of Greg Foran to the top spot at Kroger is exactly what the grocery giant needs." He added, "Appointing a new CEO who used to work at Walmart is a sign that Kroger wants to up its game."
Foran's Track Record and Kroger's Challenges
Greg Foran led Walmart's largest division for six years until 2019, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the company's online ordering and pickup systems, innovations that proved crucial even before the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated e-commerce trends. His subsequent tenure as CEO of Air New Zealand further honed his skills in improving digital services, a valuable asset for Kroger.
This expertise is particularly relevant given Kroger's recent struggles with its online services partnership. In 2025, the company ended a costly collaboration with UK-based Ocado after automated fulfillment centers failed to gain traction due to insufficient consumer demand. The partnership resulted in a significant loss of $2.6 billion for Kroger, compounding challenges that included public criticism over dynamic pricing strategies.
Leadership Transition and Market Pressures
Kroger had been operating without a permanent CEO since Rodney McMullen resigned in March, with interim leader Ronald Sargent temporarily at the helm. Foran's appointment not only fills this leadership void but also includes a seat on the board of directors, underscoring the strategic importance of his role.
The timing is urgent, as Kroger faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts. Regional chains like H-E-B, massive newcomers such as Amazon, and low-cost competitors like the German grocer Lidl are all threatening to erode Kroger's market share further. In this cutthroat environment, pricing has become a critical battleground, with firms like Walmart and Aldi maintaining low prices without sacrificing quality.
Future Priorities and Operational Focus
According to Saunders, Foran's to-do list is extensive, but top priorities include creating a sharper point of view on price, assortment, and store experience. He explained, "I do not think Kroger wants to completely copy Walmart, but it does want to adopt the operational prowess of Walmart and inject some of the things Walmart is doing right - on pricing, products, and e-commerce - into its own business."
Additional challenges have surfaced, such as unwanted attention over self-checkout technology after a viral incident involving a customer's shoplifting claim. These issues highlight the need for Kroger to enhance its store operations and customer experience to stand out in an increasingly crowded field.
As Kroger embarks on this new chapter under Foran's leadership, the company aims to leverage his Walmart background to boost competitiveness. The Daily Mail has reached out to Kroger for further comment on the appointment and its strategic implications.
