When Rodney McMullen abruptly stepped down as Chief Executive of Kroger in March, after nearly fifty years with the grocer, industry watchers were left stunned. The company explained only that his “personal conduct” had been inconsistent with its ethics policy, but gave no further clarification. Now, a legal battle involving American singer-songwriter Jewel may offer the first glimpse into what really happened behind closed doors.
A Festival Turned Sour
In 2018, Jewel Kilcher partnered with entrepreneur Trevor Drinkwater, of Inclusion Companies, to launch a wellness festival in collaboration with Kroger. Marketed as Wellness Your Way, the events were designed to showcase health, nutrition, and wellbeing — with Jewel herself not only performing 12 times but also leading dozens of workshops and panels.
The partnership, according to the plaintiffs, was informal but agreed upon via email, with Drinkwater’s firm shouldering the initial financial risk. Once the festivals began to turn a profit, however, Kroger allegedly edged them out. Court documents claim the retailer shifted control to a new company linked to the sister of Kroger executive Colleen Lindholz, in breach of the firm’s own ethics policy.
The plaintiffs argue they lost $2 million in investment and missed out on at least $5 million in profits. They also allege McMullen sought to make the festival part of his corporate “legacy”.
The Question of McMullen’s Resignation
McMullen himself is not a defendant, yet he has become a central figure. During pre-trial questioning, his legal team fought to block inquiries into his resignation, branding the subject “embarrassing” and warning of “incredible consequences” should details emerge publicly.
An Ohio judge, however, ordered McMullen to submit a written statement disclosing the circumstances of his departure — including the names of those involved — by 8 August. Whether this document ever sees daylight depends on the court: it may be sealed, or kept off the official record entirely.
Wider Ramifications
The Jewel lawsuit is not the only case where McMullen’s unexplained exit has raised questions. Rival grocer Albertsons, whose $25 billion merger with Kroger was blocked by regulators earlier this year, is pressing for disclosure too. In a separate legal filing, Albertsons’ lawyers argued that McMullen’s conduct may have distracted him from the merger negotiations and undermined his obligations to shareholders.
“McMullen’s conduct and business ethics are central to this litigation,” Albertsons insisted, criticising Kroger for refusing to release relevant documents.
The Cost of Silence
For McMullen, the price of resignation was steep: he left behind more than $11 million in unvested shares and bonuses, despite taking home close to $16 million in 2023. Kroger, for its part, has stressed that the matter did not involve financial impropriety nor implicate its employees. Still, the absence of transparency continues to fuel speculation, both in the retail sector and in legal circles.
The Jewel trial is scheduled for May 2026. Whether it proves to be the key that unlocks the mystery of McMullen’s downfall, or whether the details remain hidden behind legal seals, remains to be seen. For now, the unanswered questions surrounding Kroger’s long-serving leader continue to cast a shadow over America’s largest supermarket chain.