If you’ve ever stood in a checkout line in Denver or Colorado Springs, holding a bag of "Kroger" brand pretzels while looking up at a giant King Soopers sign, you’ve probably felt that brief moment of corporate vertigo. It’s a weirdly specific phenomenon. You’re in one store, but the shelves are packed with products named after another.
Basically, the short answer is yes. King Soopers is Kroger. But the "how" and "why" behind that relationship is actually way more interesting than just a big company buying a smaller one. It’s a story of survival, regional identity, and a very specific type of business strategy that keeps your fuel points working from Cheyenne to Cincinnati.
The 1983 Handshake That Changed Everything
Most folks assume King Soopers was always just a branch of the Kroger tree. Honestly, it started as a gritty local underdog. Back in 1947, Lloyd J. King opened the first shop in Arvada, Colorado. He wasn't just selling milk; he was a pioneer. His store was one of the first in the entire country to stick a pharmacy right inside the grocery store.
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By 1957, the chain had grown enough to catch the eye of the Dillon Companies. They bought King Soopers, but they let the brand keep its name because, frankly, Coloradans are loyal.
The real shift happened in 1983. That’s when the The Kroger Co. acquired Dillon Companies. Suddenly, King Soopers became the crown jewel of Kroger’s Rocky Mountain presence. They didn't change the signs to "Kroger" because they knew better than to mess with a local icon. Instead, they just started swapping the supply chain behind the scenes.
Why Do They Keep the Name King Soopers?
It’s all about brand equity.
Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the United States by revenue, but they are masters of the "Invisible Parent" strategy. They own Ralphs in California, Fred Meyer in the Pacific Northwest, and Harris Teeter on the East Coast. If they changed every King Soopers to a Kroger, they’d lose decades of community trust built by the King family.
You’ve probably noticed the similarities, though.
- The Loyalty Program: Your King Soopers SooperCard is essentially a Kroger Plus card. You can use it at a Fry’s in Arizona or a Smith's in Utah, and it’ll still work.
- The Private Labels: Whether it’s Simple Truth organic milk or Private Selection deli meats, these are universal Kroger brands.
- Store Layouts: Ever walk into a King Soopers Marketplace and feel like you’re in a Fred Meyer? That’s because the Marketplace concept was literally "borrowed" from the Fred Meyer blueprint after Kroger bought them in the late 90s.
The Weird "Sooper" Spelling
People always ask about the name. Why the "oo"?
It wasn't a typo. Lloyd King’s son, Larry, was a huge fan of Archie comics. In the comics, they’d often use the word "super" with that specific spelling to show extra excitement. Lloyd thought it looked catchy and modern for 1947. He was right. Decades later, it’s one of the most recognizable logos in the West.
Is King Soopers part of the Albertsons Merger?
This is the big question everyone is asking right now in 2026. If you’ve been following the news, you know Kroger and Albertsons (who owns Safeway) have been trying to tie the knot for years.
Because King Soopers and Safeway are the two biggest players in Colorado, this merger is a massive deal for locals. Regulatory hurdles have been intense. State attorneys general have argued that if Kroger owns both, there’s no more competition. For the average shopper, this might mean fewer choices or different pricing at your local King Soopers.
Currently, the companies are navigating divestiture plans—basically selling off some stores to other companies like C&S Wholesale Grocers—to make the government happy.
What This Means For Your Wallet
Despite the corporate drama, the core experience remains the same. You’re getting Kroger’s massive buying power. When Kroger negotiates a deal with a massive supplier, King Soopers gets the benefit of those lower costs.
It’s a scale game.
Kroger operates nearly 2,800 stores. When they roll out a new digital coupon system or a "Boost" membership for free delivery, King Soopers shoppers get it first. You’re essentially shopping at a national powerhouse dressed in a local Colorado flannel shirt.
Making the Most of the Connection
If you want to actually save money, you have to lean into the fact that King Soopers is a Kroger subsidiary. Here is how you do it:
- Download the King Soopers App: It’s identical to the Kroger app. Use the "Digital Coupons" section religiously. They track your data (let’s be real, everyone does), but they use it to send you "Best Customer" coupons for things you actually buy.
- Cross-State Fuel Points: If you’re road-tripping, remember your fuel points aren't locked to Colorado. You can use your King Soopers ID at any Kroger-family fuel center across 35 states.
- Watch the "Our Brands" Labels: If you see the "Kroger" logo on a can of beans at King Soopers, it’s going to be the same quality as the name brand but significantly cheaper because they control the factory.
At the end of the day, King Soopers is just the regional face of a global retail giant. It’s got the local history, but it’s got the Kroger engine under the hood.
Next Steps for Shoppers:
Check your King Soopers digital account for "Partner Offers." Since Kroger has massive corporate partnerships, you can often find discounts on everything from Disney+ subscriptions to Shell gas stations that aren't advertised on the store shelves. Also, keep an eye on the "Simple Truth" brand transitions; Kroger has been aggressively expanding their plant-based and organic lines under this label, often pricing them lower than national organic brands.