Kroger Reports Over $100 Million Lost Sales Due to Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Kroger reported that the cyclosporiasis outbreak, linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce, caused over $100 million in lost sales as customers avoided produce sections. During an investor call on September 11, CEO Greg Foran stated this impacted identical store sales by 0.35%, contributing significantly to lower-than-expected revenue for the quarter. Kroger posted a profit of $641 million with total sales of $24.6 billion but cut its full-year 2026 revenue forecast, now expecting identical store sales growth between 0.2% and 0.8%, down from an earlier range of 1% to 2%. Despite the setback, Kroger's profit exceeded analyst expectations. The outbreak has affected thousands across the U.S., prompting widespread caution among shoppers in grocery produce aisles.
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Topics: cyclosporiasis outbreak profit report revenue forecast sales impact