Grocery store operator cutting overhead

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

The Kroger Co. of Cincinnati, the nation's No. 1 grocery store operator, announced plans to eliminate 1,500 jobs.

A spokesman for company, operating in Las Vegas as Smith's Food & Drug Centers and Food 4 Less, said the cuts would primarily affect management and clerical staff at its 19 retail division headquarters rather than hourly workers in stores.

Spokesman Gary Rhodes said Smith's Food & Drug's division headquarters in Salt Lake City and Food 4 Less' division headquarters in Los Angeles would be affected by the job cuts "to some extent."

Rhodes said local Smith's and Food 4 Less customers should notice no changes in the companies' local operations.

"We can't say there'll be no job cuts (in Las Vegas), but if there are any, they'll be minimal," he said.

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