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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WyiUcJLB2BFzjFGs364NumeYV1tqpmOGSooJJ9bcjqFnbH0kRhRnEHI+cgw04/Xd
 MjfUPS+eoVp6K1USAqqYOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-011785.txt : 20030627
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-011785.hdr.sgml : 20030627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030627101952
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-011785
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030627

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZINCKE ROBERT E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205526

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00303
		FILM NUMBER:		03759797

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1014 VINE STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KROGER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000056873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		IRS NUMBER:				310345740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1014 VINE ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5137624000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd11859.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000056873</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KROGER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205526</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZINCKE ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-26</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>25000</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>96444.7519</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Restricted stock awarded pursuant to the 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The restrictions on these shares lapse as to 25% one year from the date of the award, as to 25% two years from the date of the award, and as to 50% three years from the date of the award.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The total amount of securities directly owned by the reporting person includes shares in the Company&apos;s employee benefit plans which are deemed to be &apos;tax-conditioned plans&apos; pursuant to Rule 16b-3, to the extent disclosed on reports received from plan trustees.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/ Robert E. Zincke, by Bruce M. Gack, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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