Kroger went further than the FDA. Their traceability program covers every food product entering their facilities — and their deadline already passed.
In December 2023, Kroger announced a traceability program that goes beyond FDA requirements. While FSMA 204 only covers foods on the Food Traceability List, Kroger requires traceability recordkeeping for all foods entering its facilities. Their compliance deadline was June 30, 2025 — six months before the original FDA date, and two years before the extended deadline. If you ship produce to Kroger, you need to be compliant now.
Suppliers must provide an EDI 856 Advanced Shipping Notice document for every product shipment to any Kroger facility, containing all mandatory Key Data Elements.
Kroger requires that palletized barcode labels on physical products arriving at the receiving dock correspond exactly to the EDI 856 ASN data transmission.
Kroger requires at least one of: pack date, expiration date, best before date, or production/harvest date on every shipment.
Kroger leverages GS1 standards to collect and record traceability information. Suppliers must use GS1-compliant identifiers including GTINs and SSCCs.
Vendors manufacturing Kroger private label products must be certified to a GFSI-benchmarked audit scheme for each manufacturing plant.
Shipments without proper ASN data and matching labels may be rejected at the dock.
Non-compliant suppliers risk losing access to Kroger's 2,750+ store network — 10.1% of the US grocery market.
Kroger's deadline has already passed. If you're not compliant, you're already at risk.
As Kroger's program matures, enforcement is expected to tighten further.
Kroger set the most aggressive traceability standard in the industry — all foods, not just FTL — and their deadline has already passed. FieldToFile helps you meet Kroger's requirements with PTI-compliant labels, GS1 barcodes, and complete traceability records, ready from day one.
Evaluating traceability solutions? See how FieldToFile compares to spreadsheets, ERP systems, and other produce traceability tools.
Your first truckload is on us — up to 56 pallets, fully compliant. No credit card.