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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.5
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
   
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement No. 333-66961 of The Kroger Co. on Form S-4 of our report
dated March 23, 1998 on the consolidated financial statements of Fred Meyer,
Inc., appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 9, 1998 of Fred
Meyer, Inc., and to the reference to us under the headings "Selected Financial
Data and Unaudited Comparative Per Share Data," "Fred Meyer Selected Historical
Consolidated Financial Information," "The Merger -- Accounting treatment," and
"Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement.
    
 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Portland, Oregon
   
March 1, 1999