March 6 (Reuters) - Kroger KR.N on Thursday forecast annual same-store sales largely above Wall Street estimates, fueled by steady grocery demand as value-conscious shoppers prioritize staples such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
The supermarket chain expects growth in full-year identical sales, excluding fuel, in the range of 2% to 3%, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 1.96% rise, according to data compiled by LSEG.