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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — As part of its commitment to greener operations, Supervalu announced plans to transition 40 Albertsons banner stores to zero-waste operations before the end of the fiscal year on Feb. 29, 2012.

Last November, two Albertsons stores achieved zero-waste classification, which was highlighted in Supervalu's corporate responsibility report that was released Wednesday.

Zero-waste classification is achieved when stores divert at least 90% of all waste from landfills, Supervalu said.

CHICAGO — The Windy City’s problem with food deserts is getting attention from the city’s mayor and some of the country’s top retailers, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Creative agency Kaplan Thaler Group has been tapped to run Supervalu’s latest ad campaign, according to a blog posted on the Kaplan Thaler Group site Monday.

As lead creative agency, the Kaplan Thaler Group’s responsibilities will encompass advertising, digital and direct marketing across all Supervalu banners, including Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s/Star Market, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, Hornbacher’s and Save-A-Lot.

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.

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



A new partnership with Gold Standard/Elsevier has solidified Thrifty White Pharmacy’s efforts to bring big-city services to its small-town customer base, which is spread across five states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa and Montana. 


The Maple Grove, Minn.-based chain of 84 stores recently licensed Alchemy, a new drug database and decision support solution, for all of its pharmacy and telepharmacy dispensing systems. The new partnership will enable the chain to streamline its prescription filling process and provide drug information to pharmacists instantly.


ITASCA, Ill. — Supervalu banner Jewel-Osco on Wednesday announced its "Eating Healthy with my Diabetes" in-store tour schedule for 2011. The free educational tours are designed to help customers learn to choose better-for-you foods and promote healthy eating, while incorporating foods they love into their meal plans.

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.

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.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. has entered an agreement to purchase two stores from Albertsons in Lake Elsinore and Hesperia, Calif.

Stater Bros. said it expects to take possession of the locations from Albertsons, a Supervalu subsidiary, in mid-May. The California-based supermarket chain also said that the stores would receive several upgrades, including wider aisles; expanded and new full-service departments; and energy-efficient refrigeration, skylights and recycling centers.

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.

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.