Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
VAN OFLEN MARY ELIZABETH
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
KROGER CO [KR] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
V.P. & Corp. Controller
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

1014 VINE STREET		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
01/28/2006
(Street)


CINCINNATI, OH 45202		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock             7,870.7038 (1) D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 10.375             (2) 04/17/2006 Common Stock
14,000
  14,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 13.4375             (3) 05/14/2007 Common Stock
8,000
  8,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 22.2344             (3) 04/15/2008 Common Stock
8,000
  8,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 27.1719             (3) 05/26/2009 Common Stock
9,000
  9,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option $ 27.1719             (4) 05/26/2009 Common Stock
9,000
  9,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 16.5938             (3) 02/10/2010 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option $ 16.5938             (5) 02/10/2010 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 24.43             (3) 05/09/2011 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option $ 24.43             (6) 05/09/2011 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 22.995             (3) 05/09/2012 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Performance Stock Option $ 22.995             (7) 05/09/2012 Common Stock
4,500
  4,500
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 14.925             (3) 12/12/2012 Common Stock
9,000
  9,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 17.31             (3) 05/06/2014 Common Stock
12,000
  12,000
D
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option $ 16.385             (3) 05/05/2015 Common Stock
12,000
  12,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
VAN OFLEN MARY ELIZABETH
1014 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI, OH 45202		       V.P. & Corp. Controller  

Signatures

/s/ Mary Elizabeth Van Oflen 02/23/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The total amount of securities directly owned by the reporting person includes shares in the Company's employee benefit plans which are deemed to be 'tax-conditioned plans' pursuant to Rule 16b-3, to the extent disclosed on reports received from plan trustees.
(2) These options were granted under an option plan of The Kroger Co. and vest in equal annual installments in whole share amounts over a three-year period, at the rate of one-third per year commencing one year after the date of grant, with the remainder vesting three years from the date of grant.
(3) These options were granted under an option plan of The Kroger Co. and vest in equal annual installments in whole amounts over a five-year period, at the rate of 20% per year commencing one year from the date of grant.
(4) These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved a 75% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 15% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 252% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.
(5) These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved an 81% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 16% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 280% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.
(6) These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved a 78% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 15% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 208% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.
(7) These options will vest during the first four years from the date of the grant only if the Company's stock price has achieved a 55% appreciation from the option price. Thereafter, the options vest only if the Company's stock price has achieved a minimum 13% appreciation per annum from the date of grant or 185% appreciation, whichever is less. The options vest nine years and six months after grant, if not sooner vested.

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