Albertsons buys Safeway !!!! (coupons, 2014, home)

[autism360]

Albertsons parent Cerberus buys Safeway for more than $9 billion


Albertsons parent Cerberus buys Safeway for more than $9 billion - latimes.com

I do not shop at Albertsons but I do shop at Safeway so I am not liking this because Albertsons does not double coupons.

[Potential_Landlord]

I agree. Another blow for Phoenicians after the airline merger. I always shop Safeway for their sauces and bread. Not expecting anything good - prices will go up and/or services go down.

[observer53]

I'm not sure that prices will go up (Safeway prices were already on the high side). I love my neighborhood Safeway, but I also know when it pays to shop at Fry's. A lot depends on how the Safeways will operate, since they will keep the name.

[grmi66]

Both stores generally don't do anything for me. Would like to see more Winco's and Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets around my neck of the woods. When I need better looking produce and meat I head over to Sprout's.

[Ponderosa]

Mergers are almost always bad because they reduce competition. Years back PHX had far more stores (Remember Smittys? Lucky's) and lower prices relative to today. Like Observer said, though, Safeway is among the highest priced stores around, so it would be hard to imagine them going even higher. We have a Safeway nearby but do most of our grocery shopping at Walmart.

[Desertspiritsteve]

I always get the best customer service at Safeway. I recently spent a year being disabled and got a lot of help from Safeway. Employees thank you by name and take you by hand to whatever you ask for help with. I currently live closest to the 7th. Ave. & Osborn store but think I will be moving to the Camelback East area and plan to use 32nd. & Camelback or the Arcadia store at 48th. and Indian School. Maybe it's the perception of higher prices that weeds out scruffier patrorns. Safeway has reliable home delivery that isn't too expensive. Safeway has the nicest produce, good meat, nice bakery and great deli. Safeway was once so big that they had their own fishing ships. I hope that whoever owns Albertson's doesn't wreck Safeway. I'm still hurting from the loss of Alpha Beta stores. Safeway has always been closest to Ralph's and Gelson's in LA.

There is almost always a produce person working who will insist on cutting a watermelon, casaba melon or cantaloupe for you to see and taste if you ask about the ripeness. The butcher is always happy to double tenderize a London broil if I am making Swiss steak. I have had butchers at Fry's refuse to do that because they just cleaned the tenderizing machine and they are going home.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Desertspiritsteve

I always get the best customer service at Safeway. I recently spent a year being disabled and got a lot of help from Safeway. Employees thank you by name and take you by hand to whatever you ask for help with. I currently live closest to the 7th. Ave. & Osborn store but think I will be moving to the Camelback East area and plan to use 32nd. & Camelback or the Arcadia store at 48th. and Indian School. Maybe it's the perception of higher prices that weeds out scruffier patrorns. Safeway has reliable home delivery that isn't too expensive. Safeway has the nicest produce, good meat, nice bakery and great deli. Safeway was once so big that they had their own fishing ships. I hope that whoever owns Albertson's doesn't wreck Safeway. I'm still hurting from the loss of Alpha Beta stores. Safeway has always been closest to Ralph's and Gelson's in LA.

There is almost always a produce person working who will insist on cutting a watermelon, casaba melon or cantaloupe for you to see and taste if you ask about the ripeness. The butcher is always happy to double tenderize a London broil if I am making Swiss steak. I have had butchers at Fry's refuse to do that because they just cleaned the tenderizing machine and they are going home.

I shop at the same Safeway, also rotate among Fry's, Basha's and Albertson's. (Wouldn't be caught dead in a WalMart.) They all have their shortcomings and Safeway's is the meat. They do not sell Choice beef unlike the others. Lord only knows what "Rancher's Reserve" is.

As to L.A., Ralph's is owned by Kroger (same as Fry's), and Von's is owned by Safeway (now Albertson's).

Shopping was much better when we had more choices. I miss Smitty's, also shopped Alpha Beta (later ABCO), Smith's and Lucky.

[observer53]

I have all four of the regular grocery chains (Albertson's, Fry's, Bashas', and Safeway) within a mile and a half. I shop at Albertson's the least, as it's in the direction I don't normally travel any more, but it's a nice store. I try to support Bashas' with the things they do well and with their specials. Same with Safeway. Yes, their customer service is by far the best. Hope it stays that way. But Fry's stomps all over the other three on overall prices on the things I buy the most.

I miss when we had more options, too, especially local ones like Smitty's, which was the ONLY place we shopped for a very long time.

[CheyDee]

I hope Safeway continues with their shop online/home grocery delivery service.

[theatergypsy]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I shop at the same Safeway, also rotate among Fry's, Basha's and Albertson's. (Wouldn't be caught dead in a WalMart.) They all have their shortcomings and Safeway's is the meat. They do not sell Choice beef unlike the others. Lord only knows what "Rancher's Reserve" is.

As to L.A., Ralph's is owned by Kroger (same as Fry's), and Von's is owned by Safeway (now Albertson's).

Shopping was much better when we had more choices. I miss Smitty's, also shopped Alpha Beta (later ABCO), Smith's and Lucky.

Rancher's Reserve is Safeway's own brand of beef. Just like the brand CAB (Certified Angus Beef) only refers to the brand name. But the beef itself must pass USDA inspection and the grades that Safeway uses for Rancher's Reserve are primarily High Select and Low Choice. So there ya go. The Lord and me and now you.