Shareholder Resolution Calls on Kroger (NYSE: KR) to Appoint Independent Board Chair, Groups Also Urge Company to Eliminate Bee-Killing Pesticides
Groups deliver over 416,000 petition signatures urging elimination of bee-killing pesticides ahead of AGM
CINCINNATI, OH — On Thursday, June 22, members of SumOfUs, Friends of the Earth, Pollinator Stewardship Council, and the Ohio Ecological Food & Farming Association, in collaboration with food, farming and environmental organizations, will host a press conference to discuss a widespread effort urging retail giant Kroger (NYSE: KR) to enact a policy that would help eliminate the use of pollinator-toxic pesticides, including neonicotinoids — a leading driver of decline in the bee population. Groups will also deliver over 416,000 petition signatures from consumers to Kroger urging the company to immediately take these steps to protect pollinators, people, and the planet.
What: Press Conference and petition delivery calling on Kroger to eliminate food grown with pollinator-toxic pesticides
When: Thursday, June 22 at 10:00 am (local time)
Where: Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, 108 W Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Organizations that submitted petition signatures to Kroger today include: Beyond Pesticides, Center for Biological Diversity, CREDO, Friends of the Earth, Green America, League of Conservation Voters, Organic Consumers Association and SumOfUs.
At the general meeting, Lisa Lindsley, Capital Markets Advisor for SumOfUs, an international corporate watchdog, will also present Proxy Item #8, a shareholder resolution calling for the separation of the role of CEO and chair of the Board. Kroger CEOs have held the role of board Chair for several decades.Shareholders believe that independent board oversight of management may remove one impediment to the adoption of improved sustainability policies by Kroger, such as the elimination of bee-killing pesticides.
VIEW THE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS HERE: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000119312517165302/d367635ddef14a.htm
Following an ongoing campaign by Friends of the Earth, SumOfUs, and allies, the world’s largest home improvement stores, including Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) and True Value, and 110 other retailers nationwide, have taken steps to eliminate neonicotinoids from their stores. Kroger competitors Wal-mart (NYSE: WMT), Costco (NASDAQ: COST) and Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM) have made similar commitments.
Contacts:
Anna Zuccaro, (914) 523-9145, [email protected]
Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]