$KR

Ferrero said it will buy US better-for-you brand Purely Elizabeth, keeping it as a standalone brand within the Ferrero Group. Founder and CEO Elizabeth Stein will remain in her role. Purely Elizabeth’s products are in about 30,000 US stores, and sales have more than doubled in two years. Ferrero plans to expand distribution and innovation.

Kroger named Nate Faust as its first executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer, effective Sept. 1, to lead the company’s online grocery push. Kroger said Faust previously shaped Walmart’s eCommerce after Walmart bought Jet.com and led delivery-experience overhauls. Kroger reported 19% YoY ecommerce sales growth in its latest quarter and said ecommerce turned profitable for the first time.

Berkshire Hathaway increased its Alphabet stake, buying about 48.1 million shares in Q2 to reach about 106 million shares worth about $37.76B as of June 30, following a June plan for a $10B Alphabet stock investment. It also raised US homebuilder holdings, including Lennar and a new DR Horton position, after buying Taylor Morrison. Berkshire trimmed positions in Kroger, Nucor, DaVita, exited Constellation Brands, and reduced Bank of America, Ally Financial, and Capital One.

Berkshire Hathaway said it spent about $20B on other equities in Q2, repurchased about $4.5B of its own stock, and held $365.5B cash at midyear. It added to Alphabet (GOOGL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL), and disclosed other 13F changes including trims to Bank of America (BAC) and Kroger (KR).

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) reported Q2 portfolio changes in an Aug. 14 SEC filing. It was a net buyer of equities, buying $19.8B vs $3.7B sold, and repurchased $4.5B of its own stock. Berkshire increased Alphabet (GOOGL/GOOG) and added D.R. Horton (DHI), while trimming Bank of America (BAC), Kroger (KR), Ally (ALLY), Capital One (COF), Nucor (NUE) and fully exiting Constellation Brands (STZ).

Berkshire Hathaway increased its Alphabet stake 83% to about 106 million shares, worth nearly $38 billion at June 30, after agreeing to buy $10 billion of Alphabet stock in a June private placement and buying 19.6 million shares on the open market, according to a portfolio disclosure. Berkshire also bought net $20 billion of stocks in Q2.

Kroger is closing at least 39 grocery locations across nine store banners, including multiple closures in Illinois and Wisconsin, after earlier plans to shut about 60 stores that were not delivering sustainable results, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Kroger also announced a $1.65 billion acquisition of Giant Eagle, which would add 197 supermarkets and 11 pharmacies.

Academy Sports + Outdoors launched “Academy Retail Media,” an advertising business offering marketers access to shoppers across its e-commerce and stores, adding to the retail media sector. The roundup also notes AI-related hires at Kroger and Target, and an advertiser tool update at Walmart, but details are limited.

Hartland Township’s planning commission approved Kroger’s plan to build a fuel station near its existing grocery store at M-59 and Old U.S. 23. The proposal includes a convenience store, 12 gas pumps, additional parking, and up to six jobs. The site would be accessed via the Shops at Waldenwoods driveway. Final approval is pending the township board.

Kroger said it will close about 60 stores nationwide by year end, following a June 2025 plan to shut 60 stores over 18 months. As of Aug. 26, 2025, 39 stores across nine banners in 15 states had closed, leaving about 21 more. The restructuring also includes eliminating nearly 1,000 corporate roles and a planned $1.65B Giant Eagle acquisition.