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“There are no coupons, digital deals or special promotions required,” \u00a0said Rudy DiPietro, president of Kroger\u2019s Texas Division, in a statement announcing the price cuts. “We\u2019ve simply made saving money easy for every shopper by lowering prices.”<\/p>\n
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Although Kroger is headquartered in Ohio, a spokesperson said Texans are being singled out for special treatment this spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Texans will be among the first Kroger shoppers to receive these savings,” the spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
GROCERIES:\u00a0Here’s why experts say the Iran war will raise everyday costs for Houstonians<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Walmart \u2014 the largest grocer in the United States and the world’s largest physical retailer \u2014 is also pitching to Texas shoppers. Last month, the Houston Chronicle received a box containing four products from producers based in Texas, including a package of instant\u00a0pho from Houston’s PhoLicious<\/a> and a bottle of hot sauce by Boerne Brand<\/a>, which is actually based\u00a0in Tomball.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A promotional insert noted that both businesses have been recognized by Walmart’s annual “Open Call” event<\/a>, which is getting underway this year and includes a May 14 stop in Dallas. Entrepreneurs who are interested in pitching their products to Walmart must apply by April 24.<\/p>\n The insert added that PhoLicious and Boerne Brand are among 2,509 Texas-based suppliers Walmart works with, which collectively represent more than 200,000 jobs in the state.\u00a0About 180,000 people in Texas<\/a> work at Walmart, according to the company’s website.<\/p>\n “Walmart is proud to champion Texas businesses,” said the insert, commending the Texas suppliers for their “creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.”\u00a0<\/p>\n GROCERIES: Is your grocery bill going up? Track food prices in Houston<\/a><\/p>\n Why Texas? H-E-B, of course, is\u00a0focused on the state. The other two grocers didn’t say, exactly.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “Walmart regularly engages with stakeholders to share examples of the suppliers and products we support across the U.S,” said a company spokesperson, in response to questions about the Texas-touting box. “In this case, this box highlights Texas-based suppliers as one example of the local businesses we work with and support.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston-area shoppers are unlikely to object. Food prices in the region have changed little since the year began, according to the Houston Chronicle’s tracker<\/a>, but experts have warned that that could change<\/a>. The war in Iran has kept oil prices high since February, raising\u00a0the cost of transporting food and other necessities to stores across the nation.\u00a0<\/p>\n