Kroger to add private-label clothing at 300 stores

Kroger is launching its own fashion line starting next fall.

The nation’s largest supermarket chain said Friday that the brand will first make its debut at Fred Meyer and Kroger Marketplace stores, totaling 300 locations across the country. The casual collection will span from children to teens to adults.

In recent years, Kroger Co. has sold some clothing under different national brands.

The move comes as traditional grocery chains have faced increasing competition from all fronts, from discounters like Walmart to Amazon to high-end grocers. But Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods Market Inc. over the summer has dramatically raised concerns about the viability of traditional grocers.

Kroger, based in Cincinnati, operates more than 2,700 stores under different banners in 35 states.