On June 25, 2026, Kroger’s shareholders elected Mitchell R. “Mitch” Butier to the board of directors. Why? It's unclear.
Who is Mitch Butier, Really?
Mitch has spent most of his career at one company: Avery Dennison, a global manufacturing and materials business with over $9 billion in revenue. Mitch worked his way up through finance roles to eventually become Chairman of the Board.
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Mitch Butier was Avery Dennison’s Chief Accounting Officer in July 2009, when the company paid over $500,000 to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act after its China division paid bribes, gifts, and trips to foreign officials.
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Filthy Rich
As CEO of Avery Dennison, Butier earned $12.4 million in just one year. Now he earns at least $525,000 annually as Chairman of the Board and owns an estimated $36 million in Avery Dennison stocks.
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While Mitch was CEO of Avery Dennison, the company came under fire for undermining trade union rights and underpaying workers in India.
Workers alleged Avery Dennison "illegally and unethically targeted and harassed us, attempted to divide us, and have so far illegally dismissed 52 of us!"
Kroger is one of America's largest grocery store operators. What makes Mitch qualified to be one of its leaders? We didn't find much.
Could it be that the son of Ron Sargent, Kroger's Chairman and Mitch's former board member, works at Mitch's company?
Could nepotism be the reason?
As a director, Mitch could get Kroger back on track.
Kroger has spent years building sophisticated surveillance and pricing structures to squeeze as much profit as it can out of shoppers. From electronic shelf labels that can change prices instantly to cameras hidden in store displays and vast profiles built from shoppers’ data, Kroger is watching its customers and ripping them off.
Despite having promised to switch to better eggs, Kroger continues selling low quality eggs from filthy, cruel conditions that would make anyone’s stomach churn.
A Kroger executive admitted under oath to gouging prices on milk and eggs above inflation during COVID. Kroger has also been found charging customers higher prices in towns where customers have no other store options.
Mitch, get to work.
Mitch's colleagues on Kroger's board can't be trusted. Many of them come from companies mired in scandals, from child labor and toxic pollution to fueling the opioid crisis.
Under their leadership, Kroger has faced a price gouging scandal, a failed $25 billion merger blocked by the FTC, mass worker strikes, lawsuits for wage theft, and an animal cruelty controversy. In 2025, Kroger’s CEO resigned over a major ethical violation the company and board has been secretive about.
Mitch can be a bridge between advocates and the board of directors to push for change.
But will he?
