Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the United States by revenue, quietly closed down its Ship marketplace in March 2025. The online platform was originally launched to allow Kroger to enter the space of third-party selling, aiming to compete with major e-commerce retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Introduced as a way to expand Kroger’s e-commerce capabilities, the Ship marketplace allowed third-party sellers to offer a variety of products via Kroger’s online ecosystem. One of the more prominent partnerships on Ship included Bed Bath & Beyond, bringing a wide assortment of home and lifestyle products to the platform.
Despite its ambitions, the Ship marketplace struggled to gain a significant foothold in the crowded online retail space. Kroger’s decision to close the service comes as the retailer continues to focus its resources on its core grocery business and enhancing its digital and delivery services, particularly through its larger e-commerce presence and the development of automated fulfillment centers.
The closure went mostly unnoticed until recently, with no major announcement issued by Kroger at the time of shutdown. Though the tech infrastructure supporting Ship has been deactivated, Kroger has indicated that it remains committed to innovation in online retail and customer experience.
While specific sales or traffic data from the Ship marketplace has not been disclosed, analysts believe that the platform’s quiet wind-down reflects a strategic adjustment in response to changing consumer behaviors and increased competition in the e-commerce space.
As Kroger continues investing in digital initiatives and partnerships, particularly in fulfillment and last-mile delivery, the closure of the Ship marketplace signals a pivot toward more focused and scalable strategies in the evolving grocery and retail landscape.
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