Safeway

Overview

Safeway is a grocery chain that primarily operates in the Western and Central United States. It’s currently owned and operated by Albertsons Companies, which is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the nation. The store tries to connect to each of its local communities even though it’s a national chain.

Depending on the location, stores have departments that include a deli and meat counter, flower department, bakery, pharmacy and an alcohol section. Along with its own store brands, Safeway also offers a variety of name brand items. With the rise in popularity of organic products, the company has expanded its produce choices and created its own line of other items called “O Organics.” 

Number of employees

Safeway has approximately 138,000 employees across all of the company’s locations and corporate offices.

Website URL

If you would like to learn more about Safeway, you can visit their website at: https://www.safeway.com/home.html.

Date founded

In 1915, Marion Barton Skaggs bought his father’s grocery store which was then operating as two different chains: Skaggs Cash Stores and Skaggs United Stores. In 1926, Skaggs had opened 428 stores and then doubled the size of his business by merging with Safeway.

Safeway got its name by the way it was operated. The company sold products on a cash basis unlike other grocery stores at the time that depended on credit, so it was the “safe way” for a family to buy groceries without getting in debt.

In the 1930s, Safeway transformed its stores by selling food by the pound, adding sell by dates to its products, labeling its food with nutrition information and constructing some of the first parking lots.

Company mission statement

Safeway’s mission statement is to “be the first choice for those customers who have the opportunity to shop locally in a Safeway store.” The store’s slogan is “ingredients for life.”

Industry

Safeway is categorized under the retail distributors industry; specifically, the food retail industry.