Kroger Retail Chain joins ZigBee Board of Directors.
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Press Release Summary:
The ZigBee Alliance announced that Kroger, the nation's largest grocery retailer, is now a Promoter level member and the newest member of the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors. Kroger, which joined the ZigBee Alliance as a Participant member in 2008, spans 31 states with a variety of store formats and will play a key role in leading efforts to expand ZigBee use in the retail industry as well as "further strengthen the thriving ZigBee ecosystem," according to Bob Heile, chairman.
Original Press Release:
The Kroger Co. Joins ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors
Leading retailer will lead efforts to open new markets for ZigBee
SAN RAMON, Calif., Sept. 15 -- The ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, today announced Kroger (NYSE:KR) is now a Promoter level member and the newest member of the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors. Kroger will play a key role in leading efforts to expand ZigBee use in the retail industry.
Kroger is the nation's largest grocery retailers, and spans 31 states with a variety of store formats including grocery and multi-department stores, convenience stores, fuel centers, mall jewelry stores, and manufacturing facilities. Kroger joined the ZigBee Alliance as a Participant member in 2008.
"During the short time we've been involved with the ZigBee Alliance, Kroger has seen many opportunities to leverage ZigBee's open global standards for wireless technology into enhancing the retail experience," said Brett Bonner, senior director at Kroger. "ZigBee's growing ecosystem provides an ideal setting for not only innovation, but real world solutions."
Kroger joins Ember Corporation, Emerson, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Itron Inc., Landis+Gyr, Philips Electronics, Reliant Energy, Schneider Electric, STMicroelectronics, Tendril, Inc. and Texas Instruments on the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors.
"Adding Kroger to the ZigBee Alliance Board will expand ZigBee into new areas and further strengthen the thriving ZigBee ecosystem," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "Kroger's expertise as a leading U.S. retailer provides the Alliance with unparalleled insight and leadership as we explore introducing the many efficiency benefits of ZigBee into new vertical markets."
About Kroger
Kroger, one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains, employs more than 326,000 associates who serve customers in 2,475 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. Kroger operates stores under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC and City Market. In addition, Kroger associates serve customers in 764 convenience stores, 387 fine jewelry stores and 798 supermarket fuel centers the Company operates. Kroger also operates 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about the Company, please visit www.kroger.com.
ZigBee: Control your world
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.ZigBee.org.
CONTACT: Kevin Schader of ZigBee Alliance, +1-925-275-6672, kschader@inventures.com; or Earlene Tang of GolinHarris, +1-714-662-5115, etang@golinharris.com, for ZigBee Alliance
