12/17/2014 – KROGER SIGNS MULTI-YEAR SPONSORSHIP WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL

Dec. 17, 2014. Louisville, KYThe Kroger Company will continue its long running support of the Kentucky Derby Festival.  The grocery chain has extended its multi-year title sponsorship of Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront for another five years through 2019.

“The entire Kroger team is proud to continue our partnership with the Kentucky Derby Festival,” said David Nett, Customer Communications Manager for Kroger, Mid South Division.  “The attendance at Kroger’s Fest-A-Ville has continued to grow and we are excited to watch it become an even bigger community tradition in the years to come.”

Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville is the Derby Festival’s nine-day ultimate entertainment venue at Waterfront Park, which includes Chow Wagon. The venue hosts a wide variety of activities, including national musical acts, BeerFest, food and beverage concessions, GospelFest, a children’s playground, a hot-air balloon event and much more. Kroger has been title sponsor of Fest-a-Ville since it opened in 2007.

“We’re very thankful to Kroger for this tremendous partnership,” said Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry.  “Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront has grown beyond what we could have ever hoped for when it made its debut, as we’ve added new attractions every year.”

Kroger is a long-time major corporate sponsor of the Derby Festival, also partnering on other events and promotions such as the U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest, as well as the Pegasus Pin Program.

Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront is set to open Thursday, April 23, 2015, and run through Friday, May 1. The venue is open daily and admission is free with a Pegasus Pin.

Kroger, one of the world’s largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,640 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.  The company also operates 786 convenience stores, 320 fine jewelry stores, 1,240 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food processing plants in the U.S.  Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners.

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

January 11 - April 20
March 22 - March 24
March 24 - March 24
March 28
April 6 - April 6