The Kroger Co. and members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1996 in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., reached a tentative labor agreement covering more than 19,580 Kroger associates who work in 165 stores in and around Atlanta and 12 stores in Savannah.

“Both sides worked hard to reach agreements that provide quality jobs and affordable, high-quality health care for our associates and their families,” said Bruce Lucia, president of Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which is part of The Kroger Co.

Kroger’s Atlanta Division is one of the largest retail grocery chains in the southeast, with over 218 stores in Georgia, eastern Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.

Details of the tentative agreements were not released, pending ratification.

Cincinnati-based Kroger employs more than 326,000 associates who work in 2,469 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners, including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The company also operates 773 convenience stores, 392 fine jewelry stores, 850 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food-processing plants in the United States.