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6d ago

Lake County Ends Kroger Incentives, Seeks $1.3 Million Repayment After Groveland Exit

Officials say Kroger’s early departure violated a 10-year deal, prompting a shift of $400,000 into training for displaced workers as layoffs approach.

A Kroger worker enters the Kroger eCommerce fulfillment center in Groveland on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. The retailer announced plans Tuesday to close the Lake County eCommerce fulfillment location that employs approximately 1,400 workers, most of whom are Groveland residents. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
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Overview

  • County commissioners voted unanimously to terminate the incentive agreements and authorized a termination letter ending 2025 payments while pursuing recovery of about $1.3 million already paid.
  • Lake County reallocated $400,000 originally earmarked for Kroger and Ocado to training and upskilling through CareerSource, Lake–Sumter State College and Lake Technical College, prioritizing affected employees.
  • Kroger plans to close the Groveland fulfillment center on Feb. 1, with state filings indicating roughly 1,400 Florida jobs cut, including about 935 at the site and nearly 500 delivery roles in Jacksonville, Rockledge and Tampa.
  • County leaders contend the early exit breaches the 10-year agreement, and Commissioner Sean Parks said they will pursue every legal avenue to recoup funds, with 10% of any recovered money set aside for road projects.
  • Incentives were performance-based and paid annually; county figures cite prior-year grants to Kroger and Ocado and waived impact fees, and Kroger had become Lake County’s seventh-largest employer.