Content about Safeway Inc.

July 25, 2011
United Natural Foods inks deal with Safeway

A food distributor has penned a three-year agreement with a supermarket chain to provide customers with nonproprietary natural, organic and specialty products.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A food distributor has penned a three-year agreement with a supermarket chain to provide customers with nonproprietary natural, organic and specialty products.

United Natural Foods said it will assume distribution to all of Safeway's banners, effective this October. The company said it is expecting a brief transition period from Safeway's current distributors.

July 21, 2011
Safeway sees sales, income boost in Q2

Safeway reported net income of $145.8 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for second quarter 2011, compared with $141.3 million, or 37 cents per diluted share, during the year-ago period.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway reported net income of $145.8 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, for second quarter 2011, compared with $141.3 million, or 37 cents per diluted share, during the year-ago period.

The company reported that total sales increased 7.1% to $10.2 billion in second quarter 2011 from $9.5 billion in second quarter 2010. Identical-store sales, excluding fuel, saw a 0.5% increase.

July 18, 2011
Safeway raises more than $10.1 million for prostate cancer research

Safeway on Monday announced that its month-long prostate cancer campaign raised nearly $10.1 million as part of the company’s ongoing effort to fund research geared toward finding a cure for the leading cancer affecting men.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday announced that its month-long prostate cancer campaign raised nearly $10.1 million as part of the company’s ongoing effort to fund research geared toward finding a cure for the leading cancer affecting men.

July 15, 2011
Safeway's Dominick's division president resigns

Safeway on Thursday announced the resignation of Don Keprta, president of its Chicago-area Dominick's Finer Foods division.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the resignation of Don Keprta, president of its Chicago-area Dominick's Finer Foods division. 

"Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick's stores. His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers,” stated Steve Burd, Safeway chairman, president and CEO. “We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum.”

July 11, 2011
Canada Safeway launches new loyalty program

Canada Safeway last month quietly launched a new loyalty program called the SafewayClub Elite Customer, according to published reports.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Canada Safeway last month quietly launched a new loyalty program called the SafewayClub Elite Customer, according to published reports. Shoppers who qualify with a $125 weekly grocery bill can choose among a number of perks, including a nickel-per-liter discount off gasoline, 10% off roses and deli sandwiches, and cash back up to $300.

June 20, 2011
Safeway celebrates private-label brand by setting Guinness World Records title

Safeway celebrated National Picnic Day on Saturday by breaking the Guinness World Record for longest picnic table and debuting its new private-label brand.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway celebrated National Picnic Day on Saturday by breaking the Guinness World Record for longest picnic table and debuting its new private-label brand.

The record-setting picnic, held at the Marina Green in San Francisco, featured Safeway's Open Nature, a newly launched line of all-natural foods that includes meat and poultry, bread, yogurt, ice cream and salad dressing products, that were prepared by Food Network chef Tyler Florence. Safeway also succeeded at building a table exceeding 305 ft.

June 9, 2011
Safeway inks deal with Coinstar

Safeway is bringing Coinstar's self-service coin-counting kiosks to its U.S. and Canadian stores, the supermarket retailer announced Thursday.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway is bringing Coinstar's self-service coin-counting kiosks to its U.S. and Canadian stores, the supermarket retailer announced Thursday.

Safeway said it agreed to install 1,400 Coinstar kiosks by the end of 2011, with installations slated to begin this month in Safeway stores and its banners, including Vons, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Pavilions, Carrs and Pak N' Save.

June 7, 2011
Safeway announces 11th annual prostate cancer awareness campaign

Safeway once again is raising funds to support prostate cancer research.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway once again is raising funds to support prostate cancer research.

The retailer said that its month-long annual prostate cancer campaign, now in its 11th year, seeks to raise funds that will be donated to prostate cancer research. Safeway has donated more than $65.4 million to date.

April 28, 2011
Safeway's Q1 in line with company's expectations

Net income for Safeway dropped due to a tax charge and the retailer's decision to repatriate $1.1 billion from its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, although the company noted revenue rose nearly 5%.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Net income for Safeway dropped due to a tax charge and the retailer's decision to repatriate $1.1 billion from its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, although the company noted revenue rose nearly 5%.

Net income for the first quarter ended March 26 dropped to $25.1 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, compared with $96 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, in first quarter 2010. Excluding the tax charge, Safeway said first-quarter net income was $105.3 million, or 29 cents per diluted share.

April 25, 2011
Safeway rebounds with sharper focus

After being hemmed in by recession, cash flow problems and costs, a venerable lion of West Coast food and drug retailing is roaring again. 


April 12, 2011
Former GSK executive named Safeway SVP

Darren Singer, a 25-year GlaxoSmithKline veteran, has been named Safeway's SVP pharmacy, health and wellness, the retailer announced.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Darren Singer, a 25-year GlaxoSmithKline veteran, has been named Safeway's SVP pharmacy, health and wellness, the retailer announced.

Singer will be responsible for retail pharmacy operations, specialty care, pharmacy services, compliance, benefit management and managed care for Safeway. He will report to Safeway's merchandising president, Kelly Griffith.

April 12, 2011
Hungry Jack's hash browns arrive at grocery stores

Hungry Jack is bringing its home-style hash browns to major grocery chains nationwide.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Hungry Jack is bringing its home-style hash browns to major grocery chains nationwide.

New Hungry Jack premium hash brown potatoes, from 100% Idaho potatoes, allow consumers to enjoy hash brown potatoes at home in four steps. Hungry Jack premium hash brown potatoes come fully cooked and seasoned and require no refrigeration, the company said.

Hungry Jack premium hash brown potatoes are available at such retailers as Walmart, H-E-B, Safeway, Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, Albertsons and Super Target for about $1.79 per carton.

April 1, 2011
Safeway kicks off fundraising campaign for people with disabilities

Safeway on Friday announced the start of its companywide fundraising campaign for Easter Seals, Special Olympics, Rebuilding Together and a range of job training programs that help people with disabilities live fuller lives.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Friday announced the start of its companywide fundraising campaign for Easter Seals, Special Olympics, Rebuilding Together and a range of job training programs that help people with disabilities live fuller lives.

March 25, 2011
Safeway gets nod from AFP

Safeway this week received an award for demonstrating commitment to various causes through financial support and encouragement.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway this week received an award for demonstrating commitment to various causes through financial support and encouragement.

The retailer said it received the 2011 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. AFP presented the award to Safeway's EVP Larree Renda, who also serves as chair for the company's charitable organization, the Safeway Foundation.

March 23, 2011
Safeway Foundation donates $100K to Japan disaster victims

Safeway's charitable arm announced it would donate $100,000 and launch an employee matching pledge of up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's charitable arm announced it would donate $100,000 and launch an employee matching pledge of up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

The Safeway Foundation said the contribution will be distributed to the impacted area through the American Red Cross.

March 18, 2011
Magnum is star of original film series

An ice cream brand making its U.S. debut is at the forefront of a three-part film series starring Rachel Bilson.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — An ice cream brand making its U.S. debut is at the forefront of a three-part film series starring actress Rachel Bilson.

Magnum, a 20-year-old Unilever brand, said the films were directed by fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld and are a platform to introduce the premium ice cream products to U.S. consumers. The films, which will debut at the Tribeca Flm Festival, also can be viewed on the brand's Facebook page next month.

March 16, 2011
Safeway elects new board member; declares quarterly dividend

The former chairman and CEO of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream has joined Safeway's board of directors.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — The former chairman and CEO of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream has joined Safeway's board of directors.

The appointment of T. Gary Rogers will expand the retailer's board of directors from nine to 10 members.

"Gary's vast experience as a supplier to the grocery industry, his business acumen and experience as a director will be great assets to the board," said Steve Burd, Safeway chairman, president and CEO. "We are pleased he is joining our board."

March 9, 2011
Giant to open Feasterville, Pa., store

Giant Food Stores plans to open a new store near Philadelphia on March 16, the Carlisle, Pa.-based Royal Ahold banner said.

FEASTERVILLE, Pa. — Giant Food Stores plans to open a new store near Philadelphia on March 16, the Carlisle, Pa.-based Royal Ahold banner said.

Giant-Carlisle acquired the 53,000-sq.-ft. former Genuardi’s store from Safeway in Feasterville, Pa., in November 2010 and said the renovated store will look more like a modern Giant prototype.

March 8, 2011
At investor conference, Safeway outlines dividend plan

Safeway on Tuesday said that it expects to earn $1.60 to $1.80 per diluted share during the quarter, after the company's board approved a $1.1 billion dividend from Canada to the United States.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Tuesday said that it expects to earn $1.60 to $1.80 per diluted share during the quarter, after the company's board approved a $1.1 billion dividend from Canada to the United States.

The dividend, Safeway said during its 2011 investor conference, will be used to pay off $600 million of U.S. debt, and the company will use the remainder of the dividend for share repurchases.

March 7, 2011
Healthy living initiatives are made 'Simple' for Safeway shoppers

Over the past seven years, Safeway has demonstrated a list of accomplishments aimed at healthier living, including launching its O Organics line of USDA certified-organic foods, removing added trans-fats from all of its private-label products and launching Eating Right for Kids, a line that contains no high fructose corn syrup. Today, the effort shows little signs of slowing as the chain kicked off 2011 with two new initiatives: SimpleNutrition and Open Nature.

March 7, 2011
Pharmacy Saver at center of Hy-Vee's wellness business

Few supermarkets make health and wellness as central to their business as Hy-Vee, a West Des Moines, Iowa-based chain.

In December 2010, the chain announced it would become one of a number of retailers — including Kroger and Safeway — to participate in Pharmacy Saver, a new program offered in collaboration with UnitedHealthcare, the country’s largest Medicare Part D insurer. The program was launched, in part, as a response to the Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan, launched in late September 2010.

February 24, 2011
Safeway's EPS above analyst expectations

Safeway surprised analysts Thursday morning with fourth-quarter earnings per share of 62 cents, well above a consensus of 57 cents among analysts.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway surprised analysts Thursday morning with fourth-quarter earnings per share of 62 cents, well above a consensus of 57 cents among analysts.

Total sales were up 0.9% to $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter. Higher fuel sales and an increase in the Canadian exchange rate were offset by reduced sales due to store closures and a 0.8% decline in identical-store sales, excluding fuel, the grocer reported. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, declined 0.5%. Fuel sales rose 23%.

Share value on the NYSE was up 14 cents in mid-day trading to $22.19.

February 17, 2011
Soon after Valentine’s, food stores foster romance

The Washington Post on Thursday morning tagged the Wegmans in Lanham, Md. — a suburb of Washington — as "Club Wegmans," the latest hot spot to meet singles.

WASHINGTON — The Washington Post on Thursday morning tagged the Wegmans in Lanham, Md. — a suburb of Washington — as "Club Wegmans," the latest hot spot to meet singles.

And it’s not just singles. According to the article, “Singles hook up in front of bins of fresh produce; couples gather for dates in the grocery store's sit-down restaurant; and shoppers sway to music from overhead speakers, singing along with Prince, Luther Vandross and Teena Marie.”

February 16, 2011
Safeway launches 'at-the-shelf' SimpleNutrition program

Safeway on Wednesday introduced its new SimpleNutrition program, an in-store shelf tag system that makes it easier for shoppers to find better nutrition choices among foods and beverages.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Wednesday introduced its new SimpleNutrition program, an in-store shelf tag system that makes it easier for shoppers to find better nutrition choices among foods and beverages. The SimpleNutrition green shelf tags on qualifying items are located throughout the store next to Safeway’s everyday low prices and club card specials.

February 2, 2011
Safeway expanding store presence

Safeway's plans to open stores in the San Francisco Bay Area are under way, according to published reports.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's plans to open stores in the San Francisco Bay Area are under way, according to published reports.

The SF Bay Area store sites include Burlingame, Campbell, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Los Gatos and Pleasanton, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The company initially announced plans to open approximately 15 new Lifestyle-format stores and complete approximately 60 Lifestyle remodels throughout its chain in its third-quarter earnings report last October. Safeway will report its fourth-quarter earnings Feb. 24.