WASHINGTON — If you’re a Red Bull drinker who shops at Fred Meyer or QFC, you’ll need to find it somewhere else. Kroger has stopped selling Red Bull energy drinks at all of its stores and fuel centers nationwide.
The Cincinnati-based grocery giant operates nearly 2,700 stores in 35 states under the brands Fred Meyer, QFC, Ralphs, Harris Teeter, and King Soopers. It stopped selling Red Bull products in August and had the brand’s displays removed from all locations by Aug. 31, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Kroger declined to explain why it pulled the popular energy drink from its shelves.
Kroger’s pricing dispute
While the company hasn’t officially stated the reason, the move comes with context. As USA Today reported, new CEO Greg Foran has pledged to lower prices across the retailer and push back against suppliers who raise wholesale costs.
During a Sept. 11 earnings call, Foran said he would not tolerate vendors “using inflation” to boost their own sales when shoppers are clearly “under pressure,” according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
The following message appears when customers search for Red Bull products on Kroger’s website: “Red Bull is currently out of stock while we work with our suppliers to keep prices affordable for you.”
A Kroger employee told WCPO that the company and Red Bull are in a dispute and no new shipments are expected in the meantime.
The grocer’s footprint in Washington and Oregon runs primarily through Fred Meyer and QFC stores. Neither Kroger nor Red Bull has indicated when the product will return to shelves. Red Bull has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Cincinnati Enquirer and USA Today.
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