https://www.newspapers.com/article/detr ... /25961537/
In the story there's a mention of Kroger "investing" in Michigan---in the mid 80s they had a big "do we stay or do we go" crisis in Michigan, the result of which (as I recall) was two-tier wage rates and other concessions, together with withdrawing from some markets and selling off other areas (Flint to Kessel/Hamady, most clearly). So them re-establishing their position in Michigan was where that came from (after A&P bought Borman).