Kroger EDI Requirements
Kroger is a grocery retailer, so alongside the familiar 850/810 it uses the UCS grocery variants — the 875 (Grocery PO) and 880 (Grocery Invoice). Vendors must also be able to accept the 824 (Application Advice). Kroger measures delivery with ORAD, not OTIF, and separates EDI setups by banner.
Required EDI documents
| Document | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EDI 850 | Purchase Order | or 875 (grocery UCS) |
| EDI 875 | Grocery Products PO (UCS) | grocery |
| EDI 810 | Invoice | or 880 (grocery UCS) |
| EDI 880 | Grocery Products Invoice (UCS) | references the 875 deal code |
| EDI 856 | Advance Ship Notice (ASN) | |
| EDI 824 | Application Advice | vendors must accept it (required) |
| EDI 852 | Product Activity Data | |
| EDI 846 | Inventory Advice | |
| EDI 820 | Remittance | Kroger-sent |
| EDI 894 | DSD Delivery/Return | direct-store-delivery |
| EDI 997 | Functional Acknowledgment | required for all inbound |
Labeling & packaging
- GS1-128 (Code 128C) labels with an SSCC-18 matching the 856.
- Reported placement: label ≥4“x6”, black-on-white; larger ~8x11" label upper-right of the pallet outside the shrink-wrap, two identical labels on opposite sides.
- A direct GS1 US relationship is generally required (no resold barcodes).
Connection & portal
- AS2 and VAN supported; traffic must interconnect with IBM Sterling Commerce (Kroger’s primary VAN). Named providers: SPS, TrueCommerce, OpenText.
- Portals: edi.kroger.com (maps, requirements, New Partner Set-up Form) and the Supplier Hub. Banner separation: distinct EDI setups and scorecards for Kroger core vs Fred Meyer/Smith’s vs Harris Teeter.
Onboarding & testing
Submit the EDI New Partner Set-up Form; Kroger assigns a Business Analyst. A 60-day window applies — EDI testing (notably invoicing) must complete within 60 days of the first PO or compliance assessments apply. Testing continues until the 997 and 824 are confirmed.
Compliance & chargebacks
- • Reported EDI non-compliance fee (e.g., paper invoice on an EDI PO, or failing to set up EDI in 60 days): 1% of invoice or $250/transaction, whichever is greater.
- • ORAD (Original Requested Arrival Date), not OTIF: the on-time threshold rose from 90% to 93% effective Jan 1, 2025; ≥93% over a 4-week period exempts ORAD fees.
- • Reported Case Fill Rate: below 95% = 3% of the value of missing items; ≥95% no fee.
Worth knowing
- • Grocery UCS 875/880 alongside 850/810 is a Kroger hallmark; 824 consumption is a hard requirement.
- • Kroger uses ORAD terminology and banner-specific scorecards.
How EndlessEDI helps with Kroger
EndlessEDI supports Kroger’s grocery UCS 875/880 flow, consumes the 824, and keeps deal codes and allowances aligned so remittances reconcile — while tracking ORAD-relevant timing.
Explore EndlessEDIKroger EDI FAQ
Does Kroger use 850 or 875?
Both exist: Kroger’s own guidance confirms “850 or 875” for POs and “810 or 880” for invoices. The 875/880 are the UCS grocery variants; which you use depends on the division/program.
What is the Kroger 824 requirement?
Vendors must be able to accept the 824 (Application Advice), which reports issues with submitted documents. It’s a hard requirement, and testing continues until the 997 and 824 are confirmed.
What is ORAD?
ORAD (Original Requested Arrival Date) is Kroger’s on-time delivery metric. The threshold rose to 93% effective Jan 1, 2025; meeting ≥93% over a 4-week period exempts ORAD fees.
EDI requirements and penalty schedules change and vary by program. Figures marked “reported” come from third-party sources, not the retailer’s published fee schedule — always confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide and your vendor agreement.
