Kroger yellow sticker markdowns, explained
Updated
The yellow Manager’s Special sticker is the closest thing Kroger has to clearance. It is set in the store, it is not in the weekly ad, and it can be the cheapest meat you buy all week.
What the yellow sticker means
A Manager’s Special is a store markdown on an item the store wants to sell soon. Most of the time that means fresh food close to its date: meat, poultry, bakery bread, deli items, and sometimes dairy or produce.
The sticker goes on top of the regular label and shows the new price. Because each store sets these itself, the same item can be reduced at one store and full price at the next one down the road.
Yellow stickers are separate from the weekly ad. The weekly ad is planned in advance and runs on a set schedule. Manager’s Specials are decided in the store, usually day by day.
The same stickers under other names
Kroger runs many regional chains, and most of them work the same way, with the same loyalty card, the same digital coupons, and similar in-store markdowns. If you shop at one of these, this guide applies to you.
- Ralphs in Southern California
- Fry’s in Arizona
- King Soopers in Colorado
- Mariano’s in the Chicago area
- Harris Teeter in the Carolinas, Virginia, and around Washington
- Smith’s in Nevada, Utah, and nearby states
- QFC and Fred Meyer in the Pacific Northwest
- Dillons, Pick ’n Save, Food 4 Less, and others in their own regions
Where to find them in the store
Start at the meat case. Reduced packs are often grouped at one end or on a bottom shelf, but some stores leave them in place with the rest of that cut, so scan the whole case for yellow.
Then check the bakery for a rack of reduced bread, buns, and pastries, and the deli case for reduced sliced meat and prepared foods. Many Kroger stores also have a clearance shelf for discontinued and overstock items on the grocery side, with its own tags.
When stores mark things down
There is no published markdown schedule, and it varies from store to store. Manager’s Specials are set in the store, and many shoppers report that the meat case gets its yellow stickers in the morning. Some stores add more later in the day.
The best way to know is to ask the meat department at your store, or to stop by at different times over a couple of weeks. Earlier in the day you get the widest choice.
Stacking with digital coupons and the weekly ad
Kroger’s weekly ad usually starts on Wednesday, and many sale prices need the free loyalty card. Digital coupons load to that same card and come off at the register, so you have to clip them in the app or on the website before you check out.
A yellow sticker price can still get a digital coupon on top if the coupon matches that item. That is how a reduced pack of chicken or a loaf of bakery bread ends up very cheap. Read the coupon terms, since some are limited to one use or to certain sizes.
Kroger-brand pasta, rice, and canned goods go on sale in rotation. If you find reduced meat in the same week those are on the ad, that is a very cheap dinner.
- Load digital coupons before you shop. They only apply to the card that clipped them.
- Scan your card at checkout, or the sale price may not apply.
- Check your receipt. If a yellow sticker price did not ring up, ask the service desk.
What to do with a yellow sticker haul
Reduced meat is close to its date, so plan to cook it that day or the next, or freeze it as soon as you get home. Ground meat and poultry should be cooked or frozen within 1 to 2 days, and steaks, roasts, and chops within 3 to 5 days, according to the USDA.
A Manager’s Special on bakery bread or tortillas turns into sandwiches, tacos, or a strata the same night. Bread freezes well, so a few reduced loaves can last you weeks.
Seeing Kroger deals before you go
Yellow stickers are not online, but the weekly sale prices are. Penny Meals reads sale and regular prices from Kroger’s product data for the store nearest you and adds manufacturer coupons that apply, so you can plan dinner around what is on sale and treat any yellow stickers as a bonus.
Questions
What does a yellow sticker mean at Kroger?
A yellow Manager’s Special sticker is an in-store markdown, usually on meat, bakery, or deli items close to their date. The store sets it, it is not in the weekly ad, and it varies from store to store.
What time does Kroger mark down meat?
There is no published schedule. Many shoppers report finding yellow stickers in the morning, but it varies by store. Ask the meat department at your store.
Can you use a digital coupon on a Manager’s Special?
If the digital coupon matches that item and you clipped it to your card, it usually comes off at the register on top of the reduced price. Read the coupon terms for size and quantity limits.
Do Ralphs, Fry’s, and King Soopers have Manager’s Specials?
Yes. They are Kroger stores, and they use the same loyalty card and digital coupons and similar in-store markdowns.
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