Kroger has officially ended its Kroger Ship program, an online shopping platform that allowed customers to order groceries and third-party products for home delivery.
The service quietly stopped operating in March 2025, according to an update on the company's FAQ page.
Customers visiting the Kroger Ship site are now redirected to the company's pickup and delivery services.
While Kroger did not offer a public explanation for the closure, it confirmed that eligible returns will still be honored.
According to USA Today, the decision was first highlighted by Grocery Dive on May 13. They reported that a closure notice was posted to the platform, although that message no longer appears on the site.
A Kroger spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment by Sunday, May 18.
Launched in 2018, Kroger Ship was originally created to let customers order Kroger brand groceries directly to their homes.
Yael Cosset, Kroger's chief digital officer, had described it as "the next step in creating a seamless experience that allows our customers to shop when and how they want."
Kroger shuts down a service that provides home delivery: https://t.co/9TnS2XJC7h pic.twitter.com/TcxIe6Hfrd
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) May 18, 2025
Kroger Ship Ends as Shoppers Prefer Pickup and Delivery
In 2020, Kroger Ship expanded to include products from outside sellers, such as home goods, toys, and seasonal items.
In 2022, it partnered with Bed Bath & Beyond and Buybuy Baby to offer even more non-grocery items, including furniture and baby gear.
Kroger has not publicly explained why it ended the service, but recent trends in online grocery shopping may offer a clue.
According to data from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus, ship-to-home services have seen a steep drop in popularity.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, this method made up over 40% of online grocery sales. Today, that number has dropped to just 19%, GroceryDive said.
During the pandemic, more customers turned to grocery pickup and local delivery, which many now prefer for speed and convenience.
Shipping items to homes using services like FedEx or UPS has become less common for grocery purchases.
Kroger shoppers can still order groceries online through the company's pickup and delivery options, which remain active and widely available.
The company continues to invest in its digital services, even forming a centralized team to manage online operations, according to industry sources.
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