and I think it is because of the brand that I purchase at Kroger - Kroger is still gouging but they have their generic brand (comes from one of three countries) 80/20 at 7.49 lb

Kroger here also carries a brand that is locally sourced - same brand I have purchased for many years - also 80/20 that is now 9.99 a lb. I purchased this exact same brand in 2022 for 3.99 a lb.

So, in thinking about it, some of the price increase could be due to the processor - however, no one is lowering anything. And, no, I did not expect anything to happen on day 1 and I can work around food prices.