Pre Brands Expands Ground Beef Portfolio at Kroger and Ralph's Locations

Expansion Reflects Growing Consumer Demand for Premium, Better-for-You Protein Choices

Chicago, Ill. – September 16, 2025 – Pre® Brands, a leading provider of grass-fed and grass-finished premium lean beef, is excited to announce the expanded availability of its ground beef offerings at select Kroger and Ralph’s supermarkets. The enhanced product lineups will give shoppers easier access to high-quality, better-for-you protein, making it simpler to include lean, nutrient-rich beef in their everyday meals.

Beginning this fall, Pre®’s 92% and 95% lean ground beef options will be available at 185 Kroger stores in the Atlanta metro area and 118 Kroger stores in the Cincinnati metro area. Pre’s 85% lean ground beef will be introduced at 179 Ralphs locations throughout Southern California. The expansion comes as consumer demand for leaner, nutrient-rich beef continues to grow. Recent proprietary research from Pre reflects these consumer priorities:

• More than 75% of consumers say high protein content is the most important factor when deciding which protein to grill.

• Nearly 88% of grillers plan to purchase more ground beef this year, with this intention especially high among Gen Z (26%) and Millennials (18%).

• Pre has seen ground beef sales increase 72% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, underscoring strong consumer demand for better-for-you protein.
  

“Our expansion into Kroger and Ralphs stores reflects our commitment to meeting the increasing consumer demand for healthier, premium ground beef options,” said Nicole Schumacher, Chief Marketing Officer of Pre® Brands. “These retailers are trusted names in their respective regions, and we’re proud to offer their customers a better-for-you protein choice that aligns with their health and wellness goals.”

Pre®’s better-for-you beef products are currently available in the refrigerated meat section at grocery stores nationwide, including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Mariano’s, Metro Market, and Pick’ n Save stores. Pre's entire portfolio of products is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished from pasture to plate. Sourced from cattle that graze year-round on nutrient-rich grasses in New Zealand and Australia, regions known for their superior animal welfare standards and climate, Pre^® beef delivers consistent flavor and quality in its nutrient-rich products. 

As the nation’s top-selling better-for-you steak* brand, Pre^® offers a wide assortment of steaks including Ribeye, New York Strip, Filet Mignon and Petite Sirloin, as well as ground beef options (ranging from a category only 95%–5% to 85%–15%), and seasonal items like pre-made burger patties and chuck roasts. Pre^®’s beef products are, on average, 62% leaner and contain 37% fewer calories than USDA Choice options, offering up to 31g of protein and 170mg of omega-3s per serving. Consumers can find Pre^® in the refrigerated meat section at retailers nationwide, as well as via online platforms including Instacart and Amazon Fresh.

For more information follow Pre^® on Instagram and Facebook. 

About Pre^® Brands

Pre^® Brands is one of the leading grass-fed and grass-finished premium lean beef proteins available nationwide at grocery, club, and e-commerce channels, including Instacart and Amazon Fresh. Pre® beef is sourced from cattle in New Zealand and Australia and is 100 % pasture-raised and grazed for their whole lives on lush, nutrient-rich grasses in accordance with the strictest beef standards in the world. This commitment to a 100 % grass-fed and grass-finished, wet-aged process results in high-quality, great-tasting lean beef products with transparency from pasture to package to plate. Pre^®'s portfolio of products includes steaks, ground beef, marinades and seasonal items have no added hormones, are Non-GMO Project verified, Halal compliant and Whole 30, Paleo and Keto certified. For more information follow Pre on Facebook and Instagram.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies, nearly 420,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.