80 Pastors THREATEN Grocery Store Giant With Major Boycott!

Person holding a shopping list while looking at groceries in a cart

Eighty Ohio Christian pastors have issued an ultimatum to grocery giant Kroger, threatening a consumer boycott unless the company abandons its LGBT activism agenda amid mounting financial pressures and nationwide store closures.

Story Highlights

Coalition of 80 Ohio pastors demands Kroger drop LGBT activism or face organized boycott
Kroger announces closure of 60 stores nationwide over 18 months amid operational restructuring
Religious leaders argue woke corporate policies alienate conservative customers during financial stress
Company faces $100 million impairment charge while maintaining diversity initiatives

Faith Leaders Unite Against Corporate Woke Agenda

Ohio Christian pastors delivered a clear message to Kroger leadership in June 2025, demanding the nation’s largest grocery chain reconsider its public support for LGBT causes. The organized coalition of 80 religious leaders argued that corporate social activism risks alienating conservative and faith-based customers who form a significant portion of Kroger’s customer base. This coordinated effort represents a growing pushback against woke corporate policies that prioritize progressive activism over customer values and business fundamentals.

The pastors’ warning comes at a particularly vulnerable time for Kroger, which announced plans to shutter 60 stores over the next 18 months as part of operational restructuring. Religious leaders view this financial pressure as evidence that corporate virtue signaling comes at a real cost to business performance. The timing suggests that alienating core customer segments through divisive social policies may contribute to declining store profitability and community support.

Financial Struggles Highlight Corporate Misplaced Priorities

Kroger’s first-quarter 2025 results revealed significant operational challenges, with the company taking a $100 million impairment charge related to store closures affecting chains like Harris Teeter and Mariano’s. While executives frame these closures as efficiency measures for future growth, critics argue that resources spent on woke initiatives could have been better invested in store operations and customer service. The company employs nearly 410,000 associates, with affected employees offered positions elsewhere, though relocation disrupts communities and families.

The grocery giant has not released a complete list of closing locations, creating uncertainty for customers and communities across multiple states. This lack of transparency compounds concerns about corporate decision-making priorities, as leadership appears more focused on social messaging than clear communication with stakeholders. Store closures began in August 2025, affecting communities that relied on Kroger as their primary grocery option, particularly in areas where conservative values predominate.

Corporate Activism Faces Market Reality

Industry experts warn that corporations embracing controversial social positions during periods of financial stress risk amplifying business challenges through customer alienation. The pastors’ boycott threat follows successful conservative campaigns against other major retailers like Target and Bud Light, demonstrating that organized consumer action can significantly impact corporate bottom lines. Kroger’s situation exemplifies the tension between stakeholder capitalism and traditional business focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

The controversy occurs in Ohio, Kroger’s home state, where religious communities wield considerable influence over consumer behavior and public opinion. Previous incidents involving LGBT-themed products and campaigns have already generated criticism from conservative customers, suggesting that continued activism could drive away loyal shoppers to competitors. Marketing professionals emphasize that successful retailers align their messaging with customer demographics rather than pursuing divisive political agendas that fragment their customer base.