Doug Lachenauer ’19 pitched Kroger (KR) to the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) on March 19, 2019. KR operates food and drug stores, fuel centers, jewelry stores, and manufacturing centers. With over $121 billion in sales, KR’s stores are a big part of its communities across the Unites States. The company focuses on offering competitive prices and quality Kroger manufactured brands for consumers at all their banner stores. KR’s banners consist of Kroger, Harris Teeter, Dillions, Ralphs, and Fred Meyer, to name a few. Mergers and acquisitions are a large part of Kroger’s business; that coupled with increasing store efficiency and continuing to offer competitive prices will allow KR to expand its market share. The majority of revenue is generated from food and drug stores, and this is KR’s only reportable segment. The class voted to buy 390 shares of KR on the basis of the stock’s performance in bear markets, current state of the staples sector of the portfolio, and current position in the industry.