Retail 2024: KATE MORA

Kroger tapped Mora to lead its mid-Atlantic division in August. She replaced Lori Raya, who retired after holding the role since 2021.

Mora joined Kroger in 2022 as vice president on special assignment supporting End-to-End Fresh, an initiative designed to get the freshest food to shoppers. She went on to serve as vice president for merchandising in the company’s Michigan division.

Before coming to Kroger, Mora worked for more than 26 years at Walmart, leaving in 2021 as a vice president managing a section of the mid-Atlantic region, according to her LinkedIn page.

Mora holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

The company’s mid-Atlantic division operates more than 100 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, staffed by about 18,000 associates. It has 68 stores in Virginia.

In 2022, Kroger and Albertsons Cos. announced plans for a $24.6 billion merger agreement set to be completed in 2024. However, in February, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit aiming to stop the merger, alleging that it would reduce competition and lead to higher grocery prices. Nine attorneys general joined the complaint.