Kroger Co. leaders host investors

By DAN SEWELL AP Business Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) - Kroger Co. leaders will make their case to Wall Street analysts with a morning of presentations outlining strategy and developments for the nation's largest traditional-format grocery chain.

The Cincinnati-based company is hosting an investors conference in northern Kentucky, near the international airport.

Kroger has focused on building customer loyalty and adding households as regular shoppers during the tough economic times and aggressive price competition among grocers. In its second-quarter earnings report this month, Kroger said net income rose 2.8 percent and revenue was up 6 percent.

Kroger CEO and chairman David Dillon heads Kroger executives who will discuss the company.

Kroger shares closed down 4 cents Tuesday at $21.88. They have traded from $19.08 to $24.80 in the past year.