Kroger sales soar beyond heightened forecasts during coronavirus outbreak

Kroger Co.’s sales soared at a pace of about 30% in March due to a surge in coronavirus-related shopper demand. Cincinnati-based Kroger (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets, said in its annual Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that consumers stocked up on sanitizer, cleaning products, water, paper products, boxed meal solutions and health-related products beginning in February. That activity accelerated in March, sending sales skyrocketing. "Sales…