Ralph’s parent Kroger Co., owner of more than 20 supermarket chains nationwide, reported a surge in quarterly profits as well as increased sales thanks to expansion, the company said Wednesday.

Kroger reported fourth quarter net income of $385 million or 54 cents per share, a 36 percent leap from $282 million (39 cents) from the same period a year earlier, beating analysts expectations of 45 cents, according to a poll by Thomson Financial.

Sales for the Cincinnati-based grocer were also up 15 percent to $16.9 billion, also surpassing Wall Street’s predictions of $16.8 billion thanks to increased growth in 36 of the company’s 44 markets, Chief Executive David Dillon said.

Kroger also said that based on its momentum from 2006, it expected earnings of $1.60 to $1.65 a share in 2007, far above the $$1.58 analysts expect for the coming year, according to Thomson Financial, and the grocer also added that it expects same-store sales growth of about 5 percent.