Kroger to Build Three North Texas Marketplace Stores, Including McKinney

Kroger revealed plans today to open three new North Texas Kroger Marketplace format stores, scheduling ground breaking for 2026. The company confirmed two of the new markets as Fate and McKinney, placing the firm directly in growth corridors of Collin County. The Marketplace format combines full service grocery, a pharmacy and general merchandise under one roof, positioning these stores as regional retail anchors rather than simple neighborhood supermarkets.

The announcement follows a flurry of Kroger activity across the region. The company has recently opened or is building stores in Bonds Ranch Marketplace, Little Elm, Anna and north Fort Worth, and the new trio is part of that broader Texas expansion. At the same time Kroger has been restructuring some of its Texas operations this year, including a handful of closures, indicating a strategy that shifts resources toward higher growth markets even as it trims less productive locations.

Local implications are immediate and practical. Marketplace stores typically draw higher foot traffic and generate stronger sales tax receipts than smaller grocers, which can affect municipal budgets and infrastructure planning. For Collin County residents that can mean more retail jobs and increased convenience for households that prefer one stop shopping, as well as heightened competition for independent grocers and existing chains. The McKinney confirmation is particularly notable because it signals continued private investment in the citys commercial corridors and could influence adjoining development projects and traffic patterns.

From a market perspective, Kroger is betting on scale and category breadth to capture consumer spending that increasingly bundles groceries with pharmacy and general merchandise. That approach aligns with a national trend among large food retailers to emphasize larger stores and omni channel services to offset pressure from online competitors and shifting consumer habits. For local policymakers and planners the expansion underscores trade offs between encouraging economic growth and managing demands on roads, utilities and workforce development.

Kroger plans to break ground in 2026, and residents can expect more detailed site plans and permitting steps as companies and local governments coordinate on zoning and infrastructure. The announcement makes clear that Collin County remains a focal point for major retail investment as regional population and consumer markets evolve.