J. Michael Schlotman
This kind of number is the range we need to be in.
Meredith Adler - Barclays Capital
Okay, got it. That makes sense. I wanted to ask you a question about the one market -- I don’t think you mentioned in a long time that any of your markets have negative comps. This time I think you said there was one market. And although this is going to be hard to break down, to what extent is that assumption to that market of the economic environment and to what extent is it a function of competitive environment? And those are related, but --
David B. Dillon
Well, let me offer three comments -- first, it is one division, it was only slightly negative. Second is that it is the result of both the environment, in my opinion, the environment, customer behavior, and competitive activity, both of those are playing in that particular situation, and so I actually wouldn’t make too big a deal of it because it was only slightly negative but we thought in fairness we’ve got to mention there was one.
J. Michael Schlotman
And we mentioned that we had one in the fourth quarter as well. It happened to be different markets between the fourth and the first though.
Meredith Adler - Barclays Capital
Okay, and then my final was just a housekeeping question. We underestimated interest expense for the quarter. Do you have -- can you give us guidance for interest expense for the full year? And just maybe just understand a little bit about what would be driving interest expense at the moment?
J. Michael Schlotman
I won’t update the guidance for that now but we’ll step back and look at addressing that when we file our 10-Q and give some clarity to what’s driving the interest expense. Is that fair enough?
Meredith Adler - Barclays Capital
That’s fair. That’s fine. Thank you very much.
David B. Dillon
Thank you, Meredith, and thank you all. But before we sign off, I would like to share some thoughts with our associates who we encouraged to join us on this call today.
Thank you for your individual contributions to our results this quarter. In our industry, operating successfully in any environment is a challenge. Performing well in this current economy is remarkable.
It’s clear your commitment to Customer First strategy continues to differentiate our family of stores from our competitors. I hear, see and experience great customer service in our stores every week. It is gratifying when others recognize it too.
Recently, one of our exceptional associates in Nashville, Tennessee was featured in the local paper for her customer service skills and her commitment to the neighborhood where she works. Described by her store manager as the heart and soul of the Bellevue store, Joe Hughes has been working for Kroger since 1968. Everybody knows Mrs. Joe.
“I just love my customers,” Mrs. Joe says. “I know some by first names, some by last name and some I know their faces and they know me. I see this store as a corner grocery that is involved in the community. They realize we are here for whatever they need.”
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