Kroger tests a significant change in store hours for customers

Kroger is piloting a major change to its store hours as it continues to see customers curb their spending amid economic uncertainty.

The company, whose grocery banners include Fred Meyer, Smith's and Ralphs, saw its identical sales (excluding fuel) increase only 0.2% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, according to its most recent earnings report .

Kroger CEO Greg Foran said on an earnings call on Sept. 11 that sales growth has been slowing down since the start of the year as customers remain "under pressure."

"Reductions in SNAP benefits, higher fuel prices, and softer consumer confidence are all putting pressure on household budgets," said Foran. "Customers are buying more on need."

Kroger tests return of 24-hour store service

As Kroger navigates this challenge, it is testing the return to 24-hour store operations, a format it abandoned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a recent report from the Cincinnati Enquirer , Kroger is testing 24-hour service in one store in Cincinnati, OH, and five other locations in Indiana.

"We are always looking for more ways to provide our customers with fast and convenient ways to shop – both in stores and online," said Kroger in a statement to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "The small pilot program revisiting stores open 24 hours a day is one more example of the ways we are working to better serve our customers"

Most of Kroger's stores open at 6 a.m. and close at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. (depending on the location).

Several of its locations used to run 24 hours; however, Kroger pulled the plug on this model in March 2020 to give its workers more time and space to clean and restock stores amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Other large retailers, such as Walmart, CVS, and 7-Eleven, have also either scaled back or eliminated 24-hour operations during the pandemic.

Many retailers have opted not to return to this store model due to the rising costs of labor, food supplies and rent, according to a report from Marketplace in 2024.

However, some grocery chains have recently been extending their store hours to win over customers.

For instance, last year, Costco elongated store hours by allowing executive members to start shopping at 9 a.m. daily, an hour earlier than before. It also began closing its stores at 7 p.m. on Saturdays, an hour later than its previous closing time.

BJ's Wholesale followed in Costco's footsteps in April when it added one extra hour to its club and gas station operations. Walmart is also reportedly running a pilot program where select stores remain open until 1 a.m.