[Dean],

Thank you for contacting The Kroger Co. regarding your inquiry of our refrigeration units.  Here is some information in response to your comments.

If you look around our stores the vast majority of frozen cases have glass doors on them, and that works to save a lot of energy and keep our products in better condition.  We offer products in open cases as a matter of customer convenience.  Focus group data and merchandiser experience supports the idea that putting doors on all cases, while arguably energy efficient, also serves as an impediment that keeps many of our customers from easily securing all of the products they want.  We endeavor to manage our stores to fulfill our role as a responsible steward of the environment AND to serve our customers’ needs - which is why we put doors on most frozen cases and keep most medium temp cases open.

We also educate all store associates on ways to help conserve energy through our S.A.V.E. 5 Program; one of the 5 steps is to stock our open refrigerated cases within the load limits.  As the attached illustration displays, there is an air curtain in the case which is designed to keep the refrigerated air in the case and the non-treated air in the sales floor, thus conserving energy.

(See attached file: 2007_SAVE_Defense.pdf)

The Kroger Company, one of America’s largest retailers, has committed to reducing energy consumption in every one of its stores. To date their efforts have reduced annual electricity usage by over 1 billion kilowatt-hours. A new Kroger store uses 12 to 15 percent less energy than the average store and over 25 percent less energy than a Kroger store did in the year 2000.  You won’t see high-tech renewable energy features at this site.  Instead you will see how a large retail company is saving energy with simple, proven technology and creative thinking.  Skylights bring in natural light, allowing electric lights to be turned off and making products look more appealing. The overhead lights also dim automatically at night. Heat from the refrigeration system is captured and used to heat water and the building. Exit signs use LED lights. Motion sensors turn off lights in unoccupied areas. Compact fluorescent bulbs are used where possible. Energy efficient fans and dryers inside frozen food cases keep products frozen while using less electricity. Other energy smart equipment and worker education add to the savings.

[Dean], we hope we have answered your questions effectively and thank you for contacting Kroger.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Burt
Customer Relations
The Kroger Company

Dear Mr. Burt,

Thank you for your reply.  I see you are a Customer Relations representative for Kroger. 

I wrote a letter intended for someone within the decision-making mechanism of the Kroger corporation, suggesting a way to earn some media while saving energy, money, and the environment. 

What you sent me in response was an email detailing steps that Kroger has already taken for saving energy.  In fact, you wrote, “Here is some information in response to your comments.” I intended to make a suggestion, not comments—and further I was not seeking this kind of information.  I did not ask what Kroger had already done to save energy.  I presented a new idea that I expect to be presented to appropriate parties.

So far, my correspondence and phone calls have been strictly limited to customer service or customer relations representatives.  I have no interest in speaking with Kroger at that level, as I am not coming to Kroger in the capacity of a customer.

Please advise how I may engage this exchange with a more appropriate party.

Thank you,

[The Dean]