Kroger plans to close around 60 U.S. grocery stores over the next 18 months to improve efficiency and profitability

Kroger is set to close about 5% of its grocery stores — amounting to approximately 60 locations — over the next year and a half. The closures come a few months after plans collapsed for a merger with rival Albertsons that would have created a massive chain. It resulted in the two companies becoming embroiled in a legal fight.