Final answer:
The principle of limited liability ensures individual Kroger stores are not responsible for corporate costs. Small 'Mom and Pop' stores may not earn large profits but continue to operate for non-economic reasons such as community service, tradition, and customer loyalty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle you're referring to is likely limited liability, which ensures that each individual store in a large grocery chain like Kroger is not held financially responsible for the upkeep of the chain's headquarters or for the salary of the CEO. This principle is integral to the corporate structure, where a corporation is seen as a separate legal entity from its owners and individual locations, protecting individual assets of store owners or franchisees.
Regarding small "Mom and Pop" grocery stores, they sometimes exist without earning economic profits due to reasons other than financial gain. These could include community service, personal satisfaction, and the desire to maintain family tradition. Other non-economic advantages like flexibility, local customer loyalty, and personal relationships within the community also contribute to their continued operation.