Safeway Inc. 885126 225657024 2008-07-14T19:37:17Z 65.208.210.97 /* Safeway fuel */ {{This|the [[United States|U.S.]]-based supermarket corporation|Safeway}} {{Infobox_Company | company_name = Safeway, Inc. | company_logo = [[Image:Safeway-logo12.PNG|200px|Safeway]] | company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{NYSE|SWY}})| company_slogan = "Ingredients for life" | foundation = [[1915]] ([[American Falls, Idaho]])| location = [[Pleasanton, California]]| key_people = [[Steven Burd]], CEO & Chairman| industry = [[Grocery|Retail (Grocery)]]| revenue = 42.3 billion [[United States dollar|USD]] (2007)| net profit = 888.4 million [[United States dollar|USD]] (2007)| <ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/64/64607/FactBook08.pdf Safeway Factbook 2008]</ref>| profit = 888 million [[United States dollar|USD]] (2007)| stores = 1,743 (end 2007) <ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/64/64607/FactBook08.pdf Safeway Factbook 2008]</ref>| num_employees = 201,000 (2007)<ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/64/64607/FactBook08.pdf Safeway Factbook 2008]</ref>| | products = [[bakery]], [[dairy]], [[Delicatessen|deli]], [[dry cleaning]], [[frozen foods]], [[fuel]] [[grocery]], [[lottery]] [[meat]], [[pharmacy]], [[photographic processing]], [[produce]], [[seafood]], [[snacks]], [[liquor]], [[flowers]], and [[Western Union|Western Union<sup>TM</sup>]] | homepage = [http://www.safeway.com/ www.safeway.com] }} '''Safeway Inc.''' ({{NYSE|SWY}}), a [[Fortune 500]] company, is North America's third largest [[supermarket]] chain, with, as of December 29, 2007, 1743 stores located throughout the western and central [[United States]] and western [[Canada]].<ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/64/64607/FactBook08.pdf Safeway Factbook 2008] </ref> It also operates some stores in the [[Mid-Atlantic States|Mid-Atlantic region]] of the [[Eastern Seaboard]]. The company is headquartered in [[Pleasanton, California]]. ''Supermarket News'' ranked Safeway No. 4 in the 2007 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2006 fiscal year estimated sales of $40.5 billion.<ref name="2007 SN">[http://supermarketnews.com/profiles/top75/ 2007 Top 75 North American Food Retailers], ''Supermarket News'', Last accessed [[May 8]], [[2008]].</ref> Based on 2005 revenue, Safeway is the tenth-largest [[retailer]] in the United States.<ref>[http://www.stores.org/pdf/06%20JULY%20TOP%20100.pdf Top 100 Retailers: The Nation's Retail Power Players (PDF)], ''Stores'', July 2006.</ref> ==History== ===Founding and merger=== Sam Seelig Company was founded in April 1912 by Sam Seelig who opened a single grocery store in [[Los Angeles]] at the corner of Pico and Figueroa streets. The chain had grown to 71 stores by 1922.<ref>Los Angeles Times, Jan 26 1922</ref> Sam Seelig left the company in 1924 to enter the real estate business, forming Sam Seelig Realty. As a result of Seelig's departure, the company held a contest in 1925 to develop a new name, the result of which was Safeway.<ref> Safeway Annual Report 1966 </ref> The original slogan was "an admonition and an invitation" to "Drive the Safeway; Buy the Safeway." <ref>Seelig's Chain is now Safeway, Los Angeles Times, Mar 15, 1925, pB8</ref> By 1926 Safeway Stores had 322 stores centered in [[Southern California]], The Safeway chain expanded further in a merger engineered by [[Charles Merrill]] of [[Merrill Lynch]] on July 1, 1926 of Safeway with 673 stores from [[Skaggs United Stores]] of [[Idaho]] and [[Skaggs Cash Stores]] of [[California]]. The merger immediately created the largest chain of grocery stores west of the [[Mississippi]].<ref>Safeway stock out tomorrow, Los Angeles Times, Nov 14, 1926, p17</ref> [[Charles Merrill]] later left Merrill Lynch, for a period of time, to run Safeway in the 1930s. At the time of the [[merger]], the company was [[headquartered]] in [[Reno, Nevada]], but in 1929, Safeway relocated its headquarters to a former grocery [[warehouse]] in [[Oakland, California]]. Skaggs Stores (see [[Skaggs Companies]]) had its start in 1915, when [[Marion B. Skaggs]] purchased his father's grocery store in [[American Falls, Idaho]], for $1,089. The chain, which operated as two separate businesses, Skaggs' Cash Stores and Skaggs United Stores, grew quickly, and Skaggs enlisted the help of his five brothers to help grow the network of stores, which reached 191 by 1920. On completion of the Skaggs/Safeway merger, M.B. Skaggs became the Chief Executive of the business. Skaggs retired from the Safeway board of directors in 1941. <ref> Safeway Annual Report 1926, p2</ref><ref> Safeway Annual Report 1966</ref> ===Expansion=== Safeway, with [[financing]] supplied by [[Merrill Lynch]], then began to aggressively acquire numerous regional [[grocery store]] chains in a [[rollup]] strategy. Early acquisitions included significant parts of [[Piggly Wiggly]] chain as part of the break up of that company by Merrill Lynch and [[Wall Street]]. Early acquisitions included H.G. Chaffee of [[Southern California]] (84 grocery stores), MacMarr (a California chain also assembled by [[Charles Merrill]]), the Sanitary Grocery Company of [[Washington D.C.]] (including 49 [[Piggly Wiggly]] stores), Daniel Reeves of [[New York]] (498 grocery stores), National Grocery of [[New Jersey]] (84 grocery stores), the Arizona Grocery Company, and its subsidiary Pay'n Takkit Stores, Newway Stores in El Paso, Texas, Sun Grocery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Bird Stores of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] (including 224 [[Piggly Wiggly]] stores). The [[company]] also acquired the 91 [[West Coast of the United States|west coast]] Piggly Wiggly Pacific Company stores and the 174 stores of Piggly Wiggly Western States Company. Most acquired chains retained their own names until the mid 1930s. The number of stores peaked at 3,527 in 1931, when the numerous smaller [[grocery stores]] began being replaced with larger [[supermarket]] stores. The company's [[New York]] operations were sold in [[1961]] to [[Finast]].<ref>Safeway Annual Report 1961</ref> ===International Growth=== [[International]] expansion was an early part of the company's growth. The company expanded into [[Canada]] in 1929 through the acquisition of 9 stores (which became Canada Safeway), into the [[United Kingdom]] in 1962, with the [[acquisition]] of the eleven store John Gardner Limited (which became [[Safeway (UK)]]), into [[Australia]] in 1963, with the acquisition of three store Pratt Supermarkets (which became [[Safeway (Australia)|Safeway Australia]], into Germany in 1964, with the acquisition of 2 Big Bār Basar (Big Bear) stores. The company also had operations in [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Kuwait]] in a licensing and management agreement with the [[Tamimi Group]] during the 1980s. In 1980, Safeway acquired the 31 store Jack the Slasher chain in Queensland, Australia. In 1981 Safeway acquired 49% of Mexican retailer [[Casa Ley]]. ===Other Store Formats & Concepts=== Safeway had [[drug store]] operations, formed in [[1962]] under the Super S brand, which were sold in 1971. The company also made a number of attempts to re-used older, smaller store sites, opening Food Barn, a discount grocery outlet, and Liquor Barn, a discount liquor outlet, in the 1970's. Safeway also trialled Town House in [[Washington D.C.]], small stores targeting apartment dwellers, and a gourmet store concept, Bon Appetit in [[San Francisco]]. In 1969 Safeway formed a [[joint venture]] with Holly Farms Poultry Industries (now part of [[Tyson Foods]]) to open "Holly Farms Fried Chicken Take Home" in a effort to diversify into [[fast food restaurant]]s and compete with [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]]. The first store opened in Colonial Heights, Virginia in August 1969.<ref>Safeway Annual Report 1969</ref> ===1980s: Takeover and sell-offs=== [[Image:Safeway1970slogo.gif|thumb|The Ribbon Leaf logo|right|200px]] Following a hostile takeover bid from [[corporate raid]]ers [[Herbert Haft|Herbert]] and [[Robert Haft]], the chain was acquired by [[KKR]] acting as a [[White knight (business)|white knight]] in 1986. With the assistance of KKR, the company was taken private, and assumed tremendous [[debt]]. To pay off this debt, the company sold the West Germany and [[United Kingdom|UK]] divisions ([[Safeway (UK)|Safeway plc]], which was absorbed by [[Morrisons]] in 2004), [[Dallas]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]], [[Oklahoma]] stores, and the Liquor Barn divisions in 1987, and the [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Little Rock]], and [[Houston]] divisions in 1988. (The Houston division was bought by a management-led group and became [[AppleTree Markets]].) Safeway's national presence was reduced to Northern California and several western states, plus the Washington, D.C. area. [[Safeway Australia]] was sold to the Australian-based [[Woolworths Limited]] in 1985. Altogether, nearly half the 2,200 stores in the chain were sold. In Southern California, Safeway sold most of its stores to [[Vons]] in exchange for a 30% [[interest]] in the company. Safeway pulled out of established markets like Los Angeles and [[San Diego]], and diminishing operations in [[Fresno, California|Fresno]], [[Modesto]], [[Stockton, California|Stockton]], and [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]. [[Save-Mart]] purchased the few remaining Fresno stores in 1996. In late 1987 Safeway acquired the [[Woodward's]] Food Floors, which operated in the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The company was taken public again in 1990. ===1990s and beyond=== In the late 1990s, Safeway began to again aggressively acquire regional chains, including [[Randall's Food Markets]] in [[Texas]], [[Carrs]] in [[Alaska]], and [[Dominick's]] in [[Illinois]]. In 1997, it exercised its option to acquire control of [[Vons]] in [[Southern California]]. In 2001, Safeway acquired the family-owned [[Genuardi's]] chain, which had/has locations in [[Pennsylvania]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Delaware]]. This was a failure at first, with local shoppers not pleased with Safeway's changes. Safeway also created subsidiary "Blackhawk Network", a prepaid and payments network, a card-based financial solutions company, and a provider of third-party prepaid cards. In October 2003, a [[United Food and Commercial Workers#2003 California grocery strike|strike]] was called by members of the [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] at Vons stores in Southern California. The strike (and concurrent [[lockout (industry)|lockout]] at [[New Albertsons, Inc.|Albertsons]] and [[Ralphs]]) lasted until the end of February 2004. In January 2006, [[Dateline NBC]] conducted a grocery store investigation of ten of the largest grocery stores in the nation, and found Safeway to be the most [[hazard]]ous grocery store, with 25 critical violations per each ten visits. The company reported to [[NBC]] that "Safeway has 'continued to enhance and re-energize store adherence to our food safety and [[sanitation]] standards.'" In November 2006, speculation rolled around as ''[[The Chicago Sun Times]]'' reported that [[Sears Holdings Corporation]] may buy Safeway.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Sears may have eye on Safeway | url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/130385,cst-fin-sears09.article| date=[[November 9]], [[2006]] | accessdaymonth=3 February | accessyear=2007}}</ref> ==Corporate governance== [[Image:Safewayheadquarters.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Safeway headquarters in Pleasanton, California]]Current members of the [[board of directors]] of the company are: Steven Burd, Janet Grove, Mohan Gyani, [[Paul Hazen]], Robert MacDonnell, Douglas Mackenzie, Rebecca Stirn, William Tauscher, and Raymond Viault.<ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/64/64607/commcomp_11_06.pdf Corporate Governance (PDF)], Safeway, Inc. Last retrieved [[January 29]], [[2007]].</ref> ==Environmental issues== On [[July 23]], [[2007]], a city council hearing in [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], convened to consider a citywide ban on plastic shopping bags. These bags are made of polyethylene film, a petroleum product that persists in the environment for up to 1,000 years, allegedly killing wildlife in the process{{Fact|date=September 2007}}. The bill in question seeks to protect marine wildlife in [[Chesapeake Bay]]. [[Alexandra Cousteau]], the granddaughter of [[Jacques Cousteau]] and director of an environmental education group called [[Earth Echo]], attended the hearing in support of the bill. Also present at the meeting was a lobbyist for Safeway, who vehemently opposed the measure in the heated rhetoric of the war on terror: "At the hearing, a lobbyist for Safeway called the bill un-American, saying it would take choices away from consumers."<sup>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/us/24plastic.html?ex=1186372800&en=c7f0195c3cdfb0cc&ei=5070]</sup> Plastic bags are a widely recognized cause of plastic waste pollution in the oceans and rivers of the world{{Fact|date=August 2007}}. According to the [[Sierra Club]], "[a] few years ago the Algalita Research Foundation took samples from a wide swath of the Northern [[Pacific Ocean]] and found it to be a plastic soup containing 6 pounds of plastic trash for every pound of plankton"<sup>[http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/articles/bags1.asp]</sup>. Despite claims made by major purveyors of plastic shopping bags (like Safeway) about the recycling potential of polyethylene film garbage such as plastic grocery bags, only 1% of the trillion plastic bags made worldwide are ever recycled.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} "Safeway and Albertsons maintain collection bins for used plastic bags. In 2003 Safeway collected 7,000 tons of plastic grocery bags, pallet-wrap plastic, and dry cleaners' bags. The plastic is sold to a company that makes Trex, lumber-like boards generated from plastic bags and 'reclaimed pallet wood and waste wood.'Composite lumber made partly with plastic is not considered to be recyclable even though it may last a long time". <sup>[http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/articles/bags2.asp]</sup>. Safeway says it is working hard to be a more environmentally friendly corporation by teaming up with CCX to make the world's first and North America's only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction, registry and trading program. Governor Schwarzenegger publically applauded Safeway for this push to help clean up the air. “Safeway has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership and the State of California for these innovative environmental programs which are making a significant contribution to reductions in overall carbon emissions and corporate energy consumption. By reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, Safeway is aggressively working to reduce the company's carbon footprint, address climate change and reduce air pollution”, said Safeway's CEO in a [[September 27]], [[2006]], news release.<ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=64607&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=909665&highlight= Safeway news release, September 27, 2006].</ref> They are also working to make their fleet run off of biodiesel fuel only. They are making all fuel have 20% biodiesel fuel now [http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=4797&codi=25963&level=0&idproducttype=8]. ==Locations== Safeway has a total of 1,521 stores in the United States and 222 stores in Canada, over 80% of which are located in Western states and provinces. The greatest concentration of Safeway branches is in [[California]] with 521 stores (including the 295 branded as [[Vons]]), followed by [[Washington|Washington State]] with 168 stores and [[Colorado]] with 122. In Canada, the greatest number of Safeway locations is in [[Alberta]] with 94 stores and [[British Columbia]] with 76 stores.<ref>[http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/64/64607/FactBook08.pdf Safeway stores by location], Safeway Inc.</ref> ==Brands== ===Past brands=== The company's most notable private label brands from the past are '''Lucerne''', '''Empress''', '''Scotch Buy''', and '''Townhouse'''. Of these four brands only Lucerne remains in the United States; Lucerne and Empress remain in Canada. {{Fact|date=June 2007}} ===Brands today=== Today, '''Safeway Select''' is the company's signature private label that offers an [[upscale]] range of products, a sub-label '''Primo Taglio''' is used for more upscale deli products and ''Lucerne'' remains as the main [[dairy]] line. In 2006, Safeway introduced a new line, with [[Organic food|organic]]ally grown and processed line of [[Product (business)|products]] named '''O Organics'''. In late 2007, the Safeway Select: Signature line was renamed '''Signature Cafe'''. Some of the brands in use today are: *Safeway Select — These are mostly the upscale items. *Safeway — This includes non-branded items like Go2 Cola, that have unique names, and are not a whole brand to themselves. It is also used on items that just have descriptive titles instead of names. *Primo Taglio — The upscale deli cold cut brand. *Basic Red — Mostly paper products, but includes large tubs of ice cream. *Lucerne — The main dairy brand, used for ice cream, cheese, yogurt, and milk. *Jerseymaid - A carryover dairy brand from Safeway's acquisition of [[Vons]], still used due to its reputation *Dairy Glen — A second dairy brand, used for. It is also used for the two gallon tubs of ice cream. *O Organics — Line of organic products. *Ranchers Reserve — The upscale meat brand. *The Butchers Cut — Secondary meat brand used for prepackaged cold cut and raw meats. *The Produce Stand — Prepackaged produce such as baby carrots, salads, and raisins. *The Deli Counter — A secondary deli brand used mainly for cold cuts. *Gourmet Meat Shoppe — Frozen meat products *Manor House — Another frozen meat line used for turkeys during the holidays. *Captains Choice — Seafood Brand *Oven Joy — Bread brand that is neither Safeway, O Organics, Eating Right nor Safeway Select *Priority — Pet care brand. *Remarkable — Used for the Texas based stores. *Signature Cafe - Deli Line of Soups, Side Dishes and Premade Salads *Eating Right — Brand used for healthier eating using labels such as low fat, low sodium, etc. *Firefly Ridge — Wine *Diablo Creek — Wine *Spirits all have different labels depending on the individual variety. ===Lifestyle branding=== [[Image:Kailuasafeway.JPG|thumb|right|Safeway store in [[Kailua, Hawaii]].]] On [[April 18]], [[2005]], Safeway began a $100 million brand re-positioning campaign labeled "Ingredients for life." This was done in an attempt to differentiate itself from its competitors, and to increase [[brand involvement]]. Steve Burd described it as "branding the shopping experience".<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4331/is_200503/ai_n15098252 Safeway ready to unveil new 'branding' campaign], ''Supermarket News'', March 2005.</ref> The launch included a redesigned [[logo]], a new slogan "Ingredients for life" alongside a four-panel life icon to be used throughout stores and advertising. Many locations are being converted to the "Lifestyle" format. The new look was designed by Michigan-based Avizia Inc. In addition to the "inviting decor with warm ambiance and subdued lighting", the move required heavy redesign of store layout, new employee [[uniforms]], [[sushi]] and [[olive]] bars, and the addition of in-store [[Starbucks]] [[kiosks]] (with cupholders on grocery carts). The change also involved differentiating the company from competitors with promotions based on the company’s extensive loyalty card database. At the end of 2004 there were 142 "Lifestyle" format stores in the United States and Canada, with plans to open or remodel another 300 stores with this type of theme the following year. "Lifestyle format" stores have seen significantly higher average weekly sales than their other stores. By the end of 2006, shares were up proving that this rebranding campaign had a major impact on sale figures. ===Safeway fuel=== As well as groceries Safeway has fuel stations at some stores, along with a club card discount. Beginning July 2008 Safeway changed their fuel station discount, re-branding it the "Power Pump Rewards." The Power Pump Rewards program offers six, seven, ten, eleven, or fifteen cent per gallon discount on purchases totaling more than $50 (after club/coupon savings). Products typically not included range from alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, lottery tickets, fuel purchases, and sales tax. ===Safeway ATM Network=== The Safeway ATM Network is operated in [[Colorado]], [[Oregon]], [[Wyoming]] and [[Washington]]. There are typically two machines located near the front of each store. Cirrus, Plus, Star, and NYCE are on the network. The network was started in late 1998 in Denver and was expanded to Wyoming, Washington, and Oregon. ==Banners== In addition to the Safeway name, the company also operates stores under the following banners: * [[Carrs]] (Carr-Gottstein Foods), Alaskan supermarket chain * [[Casa Ley]], food stores in western [[Mexico]], competes primarily with [[Wal-Mart]] * [[Dominick's]] (Dominick's Finer Foods), [[Illinois]] supermarket chain * [[Genuardi's]] (Genuardi's Family Markets), Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain * [[Pak 'n' Save]] ([[warehouse store]] chain in California) * [[Pavilions (supermarket)‎|Pavilions]], upscale division of The Vons Companies, Inc. * [[Randall's Food Markets]], southeast and central [[Texas]] supermarket chain * [[Simon David]], Dallas, Texas, specialty grocer * [[Tom Thumb Food & Pharmacy]], [[North Texas]] supermarket chain * [[Vons]] (The Vons Companies, Inc.), [[Southern California]]/[[Nevada]] supermarket chain ==Logos== [[Image:Safeway Medallion.jpg|right|thumb|Safeway Medallion logo, 1980]] * '''The S Medallion''' (1946–December 1981) — The red "S" part was slightly thinned in late 1957, and would remain in this fashion through 1981. * '''The Ribbon Leaf''' (January 1982–2005) — Safeway used this logo from January 1982 to [[April 17]], [[2005]]. The red stylized "S" was still located in the center. * '''The Yin-Yang - Life logo''' (January 2005 to the present) — The stylized "S" is still located in the center, but is now white. ==Slogans== *'''Since We're Neighbors, Let's Be Friends''' (1972–1979) — Probably the first Safeway advertising campaign to make use of a singalong [[jingle]]. This slogan was used by the U.S. stores until [[July 16]], [[1979]], when the "Everything" slogan was adopted. (lyrics acceptable) *'''Today at Safeway''' (used by the [[Canadian]] stores during the same period as the American jingle listed above) *'''Everything You Want from a Store and a Little Bit More''' (1979–December 1981) — This campaign, launched on [[July 16]], [[1979]], was adopted, perhaps, to reflect the image of Safeway stores as "one stop shopping centers." This campaign was used through December 1981, although it was in use in the UK into the 1990s. *'''Today's Safeway: Where You Get a Little Bit More''' (January 1982–1983) — The first Safeway ad campaign to make use of the company's new "ribbon leaf" logo. *'''America's Favorite Food Store''' (1983–1986) *'''I Work an Honest Day and I Want an Honest Deal''' (1985–1987) — "America's favorite food store" tagline used with this campaign through 1986 until the buyout and divestitures, which reduced the storecount and made the "America's favorite" line inaccurate. Also featured a song. *'''Nobody Does It Better''' (1988– late 1990s{{Verify source|date=July 2007}}) — This campaign is unique for being adapted from a pop song. In this case, the song was originally a hit for [[Carly Simon]] in 1977. Simon originally sang it as the [[theme song]] to 1977's [[James Bond]] movie, ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]''. *'''We Bring It All Together''' (late 1980s–early 1990s) Main slogan for Safeway locations in Canada. *'''Giving Our Best''' (2001{{Verify source|date=July 2007}}–2005) *'''Vons is Value''' (mid-to-late 1990s) — Used only for Vons stores in Southern California. This was the first Vons ad campaign since Safeway took over ownership of the chain. *'''Delivering Our Best''' (late 1990s–2005) Used only for Vons stores in Southern California, as a regional variant of the Safeway slogan. *'''Today's Better Way''' (1990s) Main slogan for Safeway locations in Canada before ''Giving Our Best'' was used in the early 2000s. *'''Ingredients for life''' (2005–present) ==Image gallery== <center><gallery> Image:Safewaystore.jpg|Exterior appearance of an early 21st century Safeway store in [[Sunnyvale, California]]. Image:Safewaysupermarketolderdesign.jpg|An older store design from the 1970s and 1980s seen in this [[San Jose, California]], store Image:Safewaydeliverytruck.jpg|A Safeway.com delivery truck, used for deliveries to people who buy their groceries online. Image:Safeway.JPG|A Marina Safeway in [[Hamilton, Montana]] built in the 1960s </gallery></center> ==SCOP: Safeway Category Optimization Process== Safeway recently transitioned from regional control of their product assortments to national category management, known as the Safeway Category Optimization Process or SCOP. With all dry grocery corporate buying done from Safeway's Pleasanton offices, it is said to it will increase representation of manufacturers by experienced sales professionals with extensive product and category knowledge. Corporate Produce buying offices are located in Phoenix Arizona. This will mean consistency across the Safeway Chain, meaning you could go into a store in Winnipeg or San Francisco and find the same products at the same price as all negotiation is now done at the corporate level. ==Safeway Nicknames== In [[Washington, D.C.]], many of the neighborhood Safeway stores have been given nicknames by residents both to identify the particular store and as a cultural comment of the state of the store or the stereotypes of the demographics of the shoppers inside the stores. Examples include the "''Soviet Safeway''" (known for bare shelves and slow service), the "''Not-So-Safeway''" or "''Unsafeway''" (in a not-so-great neighborhood), the "''Senior Safeway"'' (located in the [[Watergate complex]] and patronized mostly by elderly residents there), the "''Social Safeway''" (located in upper Georgetown and patronized by many young singles and embassy personnel), the "''Sodomy Safeway''" (located in the [[gayborhood]]), and the "''Secret Safeway''" (located in a nondescript building with little Safeway signage and known mostly to neighborhood residents but few passersby).<ref> [http://www.notfortourists.com/features/632824154018352691.pdf Not For Tourists, 2006] (PDF file) A Feature On Washington, D.C., Safeway Identities</ref> Nicknaming has also taken place in the company's home territory of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Safeway in the Marina District of San Francisco is commonly called "Dateway", a reference to the high number of singles who shop in the store.<ref> [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=14120] A Blog one of many referring to the Marina Safeway in San Francisco as "Dateway"</ref> Employees also have been known to refer to Safeway as "Slaveway." ==Safeway Music== Safeway Music is provided by [[In-Store Broadcasting Network]], giving store personnel a variety of songs to play for shoppers. The satellite network also beams commercials and advertisements for Safeway products and brands that play intermittently with the music. In Canada (and various other divisions in the past up until 2004), the "Bread song": [[Fats Domino]]'s "I'm Walkin'" plays at 5 PM local time to remind the bakery staff to remove the fresh bread from the ovens and bring it to the floor for the Fresh French Bread at 5 campaign.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Popular favorites in the Safeway music library include songs by: *[[Coldplay]] *[[U2]] *[[Billy Joel]] *[[Gloria Estefan]] *[[REO Speedwagon]] *[[Tina Turner]] *[[Dionne Warwick]] *[[Dave Matthews Band]] *[[The Eagles]] (particularly: [[Hotel California]]) *[[O Town]] *[[The Wallflowers]] (particularly: [[6th Avenue Heartache]]) *[[Bonnie Tyler]] (particularly: [[Total Eclipse of the Heart]]) *[[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] (particularly: You're the Inspiration) *[[Steve Winwood]] *[[Bon Jovi]] *[[Elton John]] *[[UB40]] ==References== <references/> ==External links== * [http://www.safeway.com/ Safeway] website {{Safeway, Inc.}} [[Category:Companies established in 1915]] [[Category:Safeway Inc.| ]] [[Category:Supermarkets of Canada]] [[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]] [[Category:Pleasanton, California]] [[Category:Companies based in Alameda County, California]] [[Category:Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] [[bg:Сейфуей]] [[de:Safeway]] [[ja:セイフウェイ]] [[ro:Safeway Inc.]]