What's Next in Kroger's Shopping Spree?

Kroger keeps growing and growing. Not counting acquisitions, Kroger has notched a stunning 12 straight years of growing sales at its nearly 2,800 stores. But now, thanks to its financial strength, the Cincinnati-based supermarket giant is growing increasingly by taking over rivals too. This week, Kroger was named as a potential suitor for struggling upscale grocer The Fresh Market, a Greensboro, N.C.-based company that's been shopping itself around for sale since fall.