Kroger's (NYSE: KR) plan to reinvigorate same-store sales growth showed more progress in the supermarket giant's fiscal second quarter. Total sales rose from $28 billion in the year-ago quarter to $28.2 billion. When excluding the impact of fuel, dispositions, and merger transactions, sales were up 2.5%. More importantly, same-store sales rose 2.2% year over year -- and that was on top of a 1.6% rise in the year-ago quarter.
Kroger saw some notable bottom-line momentum as well. Non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share for the consumer staples company rose a nice 7%.
But all of these figures capture only a small piece of the story Kroger investors should be following. Here's a closer look into the company's performance, including why management refrained from reconfirming a key operating profit target.