Safeway—Much More Than a Grocery Store

[#1]

At Safeway, we talk a lot about being responsible stewards of the planet and active partners in the vitality of the communities where we do business. But, what does that mean for you, our Safeway blog readers, and presumably, Safeway shoppers? Safeway is much more than the neighborhood grocery store, we are proud to support topics that touch all of us, like education, health services and people with disabilities. In fact, in 2010 with the help of our customers Safeway donated more than $130 million in food product to hunger relief programs, nearly $28 million to fight breast and prostate cancer and more than $21 million to local schools. I’m very proud to work for a company like Safeway that takes great strides to reduce our overall carbon footprint and be good corporate citizens. We have recently completed our 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility report and I invite you to read it over for yourself at on our new website at www.safeway.com/csr. 

[#2]

The most satisfying grocery store I have ever shopped at is the one at South Lakes Village in Reston VA, and I have been doing the grocery shopping for my family since 1963. I thought the Safeway at the Bradley Hills Shopping Center in Bethesda MD couldn't be improved on when I first started buying there in 1963, and when I moved to Reston in 1973 I was very disappointed that the Safeways there didn't measure up, so I converted to Giant Foods and for perhaps 15 years was satisfied with Giant's stores in Reston and McLean VA. When Giant started deteriorating, I hung on out of loyalty and convenience, but when the McLean store supersized and the Reston store collapsed, I was forced to start shopping at Safeway South Lakes.  The first two years were unhappy because the managers were poor and the employees unhappy and I missed some iterms that only the Giant carried, but, starting with the pharmacy, then the deli, and finally the new managers and their happier employees I have come to regard South Lakes Safeway as a blessing and a delight and the mainstay of our shopping (though I also buy at Whole Foods). Please tell the current managers and the checkout clerks and especially the pharmacy people that I admire and even love them.  And above all I praise Safeway management for organizing itself this way and, especially, for its charitable programs, all of which make shopping there and checking out a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

[#3]

Richard, thank you for taking the time to pass along these kind words about your local Safeway staff. We'll be sure to let management know about all of these wonderful compliments.

[#4]

Safeway really does take corporate responsibility to heart.  Over 200 came to our small non-profit on April 16-17 and gave us an extreme makeover.  They painted, built, plumbed, repaired, and otherwise transformed our seriously challenged facility.  This was a community service project for the company and Vice Presidents to new employees sweated together.  Not only did they work hard they had fun.  And because they did not finish all the work they came back again on May 7 to paint and fix more.  We have a new garden space with benches, shade structure and shed and a mural.  We have new sinks, toilets, lights, electrical sub panels, flooring, windows and storage shelves.  These thing and the paint have transformed our place.  We serve any and everyone with our free art studio.  Because of their work, even our poor and seriously challenged folks feel even more special and cared for since they now get to crete in a clean, bright environment.  We are a very poor, grassroots non-profit--without Safeway and the Rebuilding Together folks and the amazing remodeling guys from the National Association of Remodeling Industires we would never have afforded this fabulous makeover.  What a great company!

[#5]

Hello Jean-

What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing your experience here with us.

-Scott

[#6]

My name is Heather and I am a sustainability consultant.

California has a new law that makes recycling mandatory for larger businesses. Can you tell us about the many recycling programs Safeway has in place?

Thanks,

Heather

[#7]

Thank you for your interest Heather. Please visit our website at http://csrsite.safeway.com/ to read about our many efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. We hope this information is helpful to you.

[#8]

Hi Scott,

I'm volunteering all my extra time to a California Initaitive on GMO Food labeling, aside from raising 2 little boys, ages 3 & 5.
I've been organizing our volunteers petitioning efforts in Santa Cruz, and could really use the support of our local Safeways in letting us petition there.
This initiative is just about the Right To Know what's in our food. Here's a little info about what it would do:

What the Initiative would do & exemptions

a.     It would  require food sold in retail outlets such as grocery stores in California to be labeled if it is produced with genetic engineering.  In addition to this disclosure, genetically engineered foods are prohibited from being advertised as “natural”

b.   It would allow Californians to choose what they buy and eat and would allow health professionals to track any potential adverse health impacts of these foods

c.      It would not ban genetically engineered foods in CA - only require that they be labeled.

d.      EXEMPTIONS- It does not require labeling for foods prepared for immediate consumption (Ex. food prepared for/at bake sales, restaurants, salad bars), nor does it cover animals injected with growth hormones such as rbGH, or fed genetically engineered feed, as long as those animals have not themselves been genetically engineered.

                       Labeling Start time -  July 1st of 2014 -This will give food producers plenty of time to

                       include GMO labeling on their foods.  Companies change their labeling all the 

As a concerned parent on what my children put into their bodies, I want the option of wheater to feed my children such untested food or not. 

[#9]

We appreciate your interest, Tarah. We suggest that you speak with the Store Manager in your local store location for further assistance with your request.

[#10]

Hi,

I think Safeway is a strong company whose theme is always to thrive in serving the community well.  Has Safeway looked into other avenues such as utilizing a "take a number" kind of service in order to serve customers on a timely manner and also looking into the work force utilizing their utmost potential while working for Safeway.  For instance, making sure employees are sent to a "retreat" to focus or refocused on what made them choose Safeway as part of their livelihood and as part of serving the community.  What were their aspirations when hired? Maybe it's time to refocus.  And for those that had served well and long maybe look into serving other means such as outside Safeway, bigger community afterall Safeway is always a model to be duplicated.  This would open up many opportunities who wants to serve Safeway and its communities - will do very good to the country and most of all to the economy.  Many are probably in positions where it is just not for them and their goals are not really being served and met and their enthusiasm has long been gone.  Thank you and await your response.

[#11]

Natalie, we appreciate your suggestions for a take-a-number service and a retreat for our employees. We'll be sure to forward your ideas to our Retail Operations and Human Resources Departments.

[#12]

I find it odd that when I asked the Safeway store manager how we would know what foods in the store are genetically modified, he didn't have any idea what I was talking about.  This is not a new topic -  We the consumer deserve to know what's in our food.  I'm wondering if these store managers are told to play dumb about the topic.  We will get this issue on the AZ ballot and force the labeling of GMO foods at some point.  We will find a store who at least labels their GMO food and begin shopping there and refuse to buy GMO food. 

[#13]

Thank you for sharing your feedback, Renee and we apologize for any inconvenience. Your concerns will be directed to our Public Affairs Team for further review and consideration.

[#14]

Wanted to let you know of an iphone app that reminds people not to leave their re-usable grocery bags in the car. I always forgot mine- this app called "DON"T FORGET YOUR BAGS" is a voice message that alerts you when you are within 200 feet of your store.  It maps,directions, gives phone numbers.  This will save stores money on plastic or paper-  plus it is GREEN.  I know grocery stores spend about 1,000,000. a year providing bags for people. Spread the word.

[#15]

Thanks for the tip Tom!