INDIANAPOLIS — Kroger announced it has provided new career opportunities to more than 23,500 workers nationwide.

This includes those from the hardest-hit sectors such as restaurants, hotels and food service distributors.

Kroger plans to hire an additional 20,000 workers over the next several weeks to help communities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, said a news release from Kroger.

In Kroger Central Division, serving primarily Indiana and Illinois, each store needs as many as 35 new associates. Recruiters hired 275 people in just the last three days. Hundreds of more applicants will join the company in the days ahead. Other job seekers are invited to talk with recruiters at their local stores or apply online at jobs.kroger.com. 

“Kroger’s top priority continues to be uplifting our associates and serving our communities, whether that’s by ensuring customers always can find food and products on our shelves or by providing a nearly immediate job opportunity to help an unemployed person begin working again,” said Tim Massa, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief people officer.

Additionally, Kroger formed employment partnerships with local, regional and national businesses from the most-affected industries to create a shared-resource model to temporarily flex employees to Kroger roles, ensuring the food supply chain continues without disruption.

Current partners include Frisch’s, Marriott International, McLane Foodservice, Shamrocks Food, Sodexo, SodexoMAGIC, Sysco, Thunderdome Restaurant Group, US Foods and VF Corporation.