KROGER

CINCINNATI — Kroger danced around "the elephant in the room" in declining to discuss future merger and acquisition plans on its fourth-quarter conference call Thursday morning. While neither Kroger executives nor analysts actually referenced any potential Safeway transaction, Rodney McMullen, Kroger CEO did provide some color as to what strategic opportunities the company would be interested in: "The thing that was attractive about Harris Teeter as a transaction — it's a well-run company that overall we admired a whole lot," he said.

NEW YORK — Cerberus Capital Management is attempting to lock down a deal to secure Safeway as part of an acquisition that could exceed $9 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. 

DALLAS — Kroger on Wednesday lowered prices on thousands of food and household items and renewed an emphasis on shopping experience, fuel discounts, local products and community relations in the Dallas market, the retailer announced. Within the next two years, Kroger will build six new stores and expand three locations, along with opening multiple fuel centers and remodeling existing properties in the North Texas area.