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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.9
 
                      [LETTERHEAD OF SALOMON SMITH BARNEY]
 
                        CONSENT OF SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
 
We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the description of our opinion
letter, dated October 18, 1998, under the caption "MERGER--Opinions of Financial
Advisors" and to the inclusion of such opinion letter as Annex F to the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus of The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"), which Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of
Kroger. By giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we are experts with
respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the meaning of the
term "expert" as used in, or that we come within the category of persons whose
consent is required under, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
thereunder.
 
Dated: November 6, 1998
                                          SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
                                          By:      /s/ WESLEY C. WALRAVEN
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Wesley C. Walraven
                                            Managing Director