If you have used Kroger’s loyalty card or phone app, Kroger is keeping a file on you, and you have never seen it.
The company tracks what you buy, how often you buy it, and how much you’re willing to pay. It even estimates your education level, marital status, number of kids, and other details about your family.
A Consumer Reports investigation revealed that Kroger uses this information to build “secret shopper profiles” on loyalty program members, including an “income predictor” that estimates your annual income.
Kroger could be using your own information against you, excluding you from deals that could save you money. And it may even sell your data to other companies that could spam or scam you. One shopper who asked for his file learned his information had been shared with more than 50 other companies.
Help us hold Kroger accountable
We are investigating what data Kroger collects on its customers and what it does with that data. Our goal is to shed light on predatory practices and encourage Kroger to stop invading customer privacy. You can help by contributing to our investigation: request your secret profile from Kroger and share it with us at info@responsiblefoodbusiness.org.
CRFB takes consumer privacy seriously and takes care to safeguard any sensitive information received. Personal information you share with us will never be sold or distributed to any third parties, nor will it be shared in our research without anonymization, or, in rare cases where identifying information would be useful, without your express permission.
Kroger made over a billion dollars off customer data last year. What will it do with your info next? You may have a legal right to see what is in your file. Here is how:
You must live in one of these states to be eligible
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Maryland
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Nevada
Oregon
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
What if my state isn’t listed?
These rights only exist in states that have passed a privacy law. Most states have not. If you live in one of those states, Kroger does not have to tell you anything about the data it keeps on you.
It only takes a few minutes to fill out Kroger’s request form
Step 1: Open the request form
Go to Kroger’s Privacy Preference Center.
Step 2: Select your state and “Consumer”
Step 3: Choose your request type
Select “Know Personal Information” from the dropdown menu. This means you're asking to see the data Kroger stores about you. Then click “Click Here”
Step 4: Fill in your information
Choose “Know Personal Information” again from the top options
Fill out basic details such as name, email, and Kroger Loyalty ID Number
Step 5: Review and submit
After providing your information, you will be asked to review the acknowledgement (note that this form describes a penalty of perjury for submitting untrue or knowingly incorrect information) and agree by clicking the button “Click to Sign” and completing a CAPTCHA verification. Once you have reviewed all of your inputs to this form for accuracy, click “Submit.”
What happens next
Kroger will typically respond by email with the requested data or an explanation if they can't fulfill the request. Kroger has a legal deadline to respond.
Before handing over any data, Kroger has to confirm you're really who you say you are (or that you're authorized to request on someone else's behalf), so if you don't provide verifying information, expect Kroger to ask for additional info.
Why this is worth doing
You have the right to know what information Kroger is collecting on you. It might be making guesses about you, your income, and your family that affect the deals you’re offered and the prices you pay.
We encourage all eligible consumers to exercise this right, and not just for your own peace of mind; every request filed is part of a cumulative signal to Kroger that its customers are paying attention.
