CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. is getting creative. The company, which is one of the world’s largest grocery retailers with 2,796 food stores operating under a number of banners in 35 states and the District of Columbia, launched a new website last month, www.krogerstories.com, that features various formats to help convey how the company is distinguishing itself from the competition.

“We believe customers, associates and other stakeholders are increasingly making decisions about where to shop, where to work, and who shares their values based on how well they understand the ways a company makes a difference for their people, communities and the planet,” commented Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs. “In this equation, we believe that stories — credible, authentic, human stories — matter more than perhaps anything else.”

Produced by both free­lancers and Kroger associates, the new website presents a variety of voices sharing stories about Kroger’s great people and innovative projects, and about the ideas that are changing the way we eat, drink and think about food. The multimedia site will feature long- and short-form written content along with offering video and photographic storytelling.

“On any given day, nearly half- a-million Kroger associates are doing incredible work,” pointed out Ann Reed, vice president of Customer 1st Promise. “We get a fresh chance to make personal connections, to lift people up and lighten their load.

“Krogerstories.com is designed to elevate these unique stories and share the difference our wonderful associates make for our customers, communities and each other.”

Kroger says that it makes a difference in the daily lives of 8.5 million customers who shop in the company’s many food stores. In addition to food stores, the company has 2,255 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 319 fine jewelry stores, 1,445 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants located in the United States, and it offers the ClickList online ordering ­service.

Kroger, according to the retailer, is recognized as one of America’s most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and over 145,000 community organizations, including schools.

A leader in supplier diversity as well, Kroger is proud to be a member of the Billion Dollar ­Roundtable.

One of the current stories on the new website, for example, highlights the career of the company’s longest-serving associate, Larry Arnold, who after 63 years with Kroger retired at age 79. The Falls Township, Ohio, native worked as a dairy clerk at the Pickerington Kroger Marketplace. He started with the ­company in 1953, when he accepted a job as a clerk at the former Market Street store in Zanesville a week before his 16th birthday.

By stepping down, Arnold relinquished at the same time his title of longest-serving current associate. “It’s just a feeling everybody gets,” he remarked. “They always said you know when you’re done, and I knew when I was done.”

Arnold added, however, that leaving his Kroger team wasn’t easy. “I will miss the people — you’ll always miss the people — and I’ll miss the customers; we have nice customers up here.”