Kroger has announced plans to expand its presence in North Texas with the construction of four new stores, representing a $160 million investment. The Cincinnati-based grocery chain will open two stores in Fort Worth, one in Anna, and one in Little Elm.
Construction is underway on a store at 113 East Bonds Ranch Road in Fort Worth, expected to open this fall. Another Fort Worth location at Sendera Ranch Boulevard and Rancho Canyon Way is scheduled for completion in 2026. These locations are intended to serve customers in Haslet and southeast Wise County.
In April, Kroger began building a store at U.S. Highway 380 and FM 2931 in Little Elm. Construction on the Anna store at Rosamond Parkway and U.S. Highway 75 is set to begin this fall.
Each of the four stores will be more than 120,000 square feet, with an estimated cost of about $40 million per location. According to John Votava of Kroger, the expansion will create approximately 1,200 jobs.
Kroger currently holds the position as the second-largest grocery chain in Dallas-Fort Worth after Walmart. The area’s fast-growing population has led to increased competition among grocers for market share.
San Antonio-based H-E-B entered the Metroplex market in 2022 with a Frisco store and now operates 14 locations across the region, with seven more planned. The company also runs six Central Market stores and two Joe V’s Smart Shops, with another Joe V’s on the way. H-E-B continues acquiring land for future development, including recent purchases of 95 acres in Pilot Point and 20 acres in Sherman (https://therealdeal.com/texas/dallas/2024/06/05/h-e-b-adds-95-acres-to-its-north-texas-real-estate-portfolio/, https://therealdeal.com/texas/dallas/2024/05/16/h-e-b-pushes-farther-north-to-get-in-on-sherman-boom/).
Kroger’s announcement comes as it recovers from a failed merger attempt with Albertsons that was blocked by a federal judge last December (https://therealdeal.com/national/2024/01/18/kroger-to-close-60-ralphs-food-4-less-locations-across-us/, https://therealdeal.com/texas/dallas/2024/01/17/kroger-closing-mckinney-store-after-failed-albertsons-merger). As part of its restructuring efforts following the collapse of the $25 billion deal, Kroger closed about 60 stores nationwide, including one location at 1707 West University Drive in McKinney.
Kroger first entered Dallas-Fort Worth in 1958 and now operates around 100 stores locally. Data from CoStar shows that Kroger ranks eighth among retail property owners within the region.
“These new locations represent our commitment to serving North Texas communities,” said John Votava of Kroger. “We look forward to providing quality products and creating jobs as we grow alongside these vibrant neighborhoods.”
