CINCINNATI – Kroger has stopped selling Red Bull products at all of its stores and fuel centers nationwide, removing the popular energy drink brand from shelves across its grocery banners.
The retailer completed the phaseout by Aug. 31, clearing remaining inventory, removing Red Bull-branded coolers and dismantling in-store displays, according to industry reports and online notices.
The move affects all stores operating under the Kroger family of banners, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC, Harris Teeter and King Soopers.
Kroger has not publicly provided a specific reason for discontinuing the brand. However, the decision comes as the retailer has increasingly pushed back against supplier price increases amid ongoing inflationary pressures. Notices posted online indicate Kroger is focused on maintaining affordable prices for shoppers, while industry reports suggest the removal stems from a pricing dispute between Kroger and Red Bull.
Despite dropping Red Bull, Kroger continues to offer a wide range of competing energy drink brands, including Monster, Alani Nu, Rockstar, NOS and Celsius.
The nationwide removal marks a significant shift in the energy drink category, eliminating one of the industry's most recognizable brands from the shelves of one of the nation's largest grocery retailers.
