Kroger
Public Statements Risk
Kroger is a high-profile company. The CEO, Rodney McMullen, has been with the company since 2014, and does not shy away from voicing his opinions on current political and non-political topics. In 2022, a Senator spoke out against McMullen, who expected Republicans to defend Kroger against Democrats pushing for regulations. A video of this went viral and thus created the public image that Kroger and McMullen support Republicans.

Political Contributions Risk
Kroger contributes to Republicans at a 3:2 ratio compared to Democrats, with approximately the same split between giving through the company PAC and giving through its senior executives. Benchmarked to the rest of the Consumer Staples Sector, Kroger's contribution magnitude is in the upper-middle echelon. Competitors in the sector such as Tyson and Kraft Heinz donate much more substantially, but Hormel contributes at a similar level.

Political Dichotomy Risk
Kroger has many subsidiary stores located throughout the United States, and their customer base is diverse due to this geographical spread. Consumers of all political standings shop at the company, insulating them from boycotts. They are even more protected due to the fact that many of their locations face low competition. Kroger states that a risk comes from the many employees covered by collective bargaining agreements with unions. This leads to potential labor disputes that could affect the corporation's ability to generate revenue. This, in turn, sets the company up for a potential standoff with its more left leaning shoppers. Political PR issues with regional competition like Publix promise to help keep the heat off of the brand.

Associational Risk
There is a lack of evidence associating Kroger with risky politicians or celebrities. The only piece of potentially troublesome news reveals that Kroger worked with former House speaker John Boehner to gain "strategic advice" during their acquisition of Albertsons. This raises the company's pH slightly since Boehner has been openly critical of other Republican politicians. Kroger's social media has no evidence of risky associations.

Brand Visibility Risk
Kroger is a huge brand with decent brand awareness. They are regarded as a statewide favorite in several states. However, their sheer size makes them a target. They are product focused, with only a few goods being connected to their brand directly.
