The Kroger Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a food retailer in the United States. The company operates three formats of supermarkets: combination food and drug stores (combo stores), multi department stores, and price impact warehouse stores or marketplace stores. The combo stores operate as food stores; and provide pharmacies, food and organic sections, general merchandise, and pet centers, as well as perishables, such as seafood and organic produce. The multi department stores offer general merchandise items, such as apparel, home fashion and furnishings, electronics, automotive, toys, and fine jewelry. The combo and multi department stores also have fuel centers. The price impact warehouse stores offer grocery, health, and beauty care items, such as meat, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce. The Kroger Co. also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. In addition, the company operates convenience stores, which offer an assortment of staple food items and general merchandise, as well as gasoline; and fine jewelry stores. As of August 29, 2007, it operated approximately 2,500 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states; and approximately 750 convenience stores and 650 supermarket fuel centers. The Kroger Co. was founded in 1883 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.less