Kroger’s Kristal Howard shares the blueprint for thriving amid disruption

It’s a lifeline, a meeting spot, aisles of possibilities. We’ve relied on the grocery store to be open, to deliver and to keep customers and employees safe. Behind the scenes of the country’s largest grocery chain, Kroger, are the communicators making sure those inside and outside the organization are fed the most accurate information.

Kristal Howard, director of corporate communications and media relations at The Kroger Co., views this period as “The Year of the Pivot” for her and fellow communicators.

“This crisis has solidified the communications function as a critical part of the C-suite and of the decision-making team,” she says. “You can’t have a functional leadership team without communicators.”

From her home in Cincinnati, Kroger’s headquarters, Howard spent some virtual time with PR Daily to share her views on leadership, communications and the best time of day to grocery shop (early, early morning).

“For the last six months, we’ve played a critical role in society,” she says.  “No matter your race, lifestyle—we all convene at the grocery store.”