WARNER ROBINS -- Kroger has offered a Warner Robins woman a $500 gift card after she said a manager made an insensitive comment when she was shopping, her husband says.

Rick Nerger said his wife, Cindy Nerger, was checking out groceries at the Watson Boulevard store last week when the cashier questioned whether some of the items were covered by food stamps.

After it was determined they were, Rick Nerger said a manager remarked, “I’m sorry I work for a living, and I don’t have to have food stamps.”

Cindy Nerger, 28, has been on food stamps since she started dialysis for kidney disease five years ago, said Rick Nerger, a carpenter. He said his wife currently is in the hospital because of an infection and has declined the $500 gift card.

The manager involved has been coached and moved to a different location, said Kroger spokesman Glynn Jenkins. He did not specify where except to say it is in the state. Kroger initially offered Cindy Nerger a $15 gift card.

“I cannot emphasize that we regret the situation happened,” Jenkins said. “We had an internal investigation and took immediate action. We’ve extended apologies to the customer through our statements, and a manager has reached out to her as well.”

To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.