Month: April 2019

Safeway Spotlight: What the Education Assistance Program means to Hasan Ulutas

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Safeway is committed to helping our employees be the best that they can be. Whether it’s within the store walls or in their personal lives, we support our employees in taking risks, making bold moves, and striving for greatness – and when they achieve success, we celebrate together.

Hasan Ulutas was born in a small village in Turkey. His mother had seven children, and dreamed of the opportunity for them to receive an education, as she believed it was the only way to escape the quality of life in their town.

After graduating high school in 2008, Hasan came to Canada in search of higher education. With the immediate goal of bettering his English, Hasan applied for a role with Safeway where he could speak to customers and improve his language skills. During this time, Hasan was taking courses to upgrade his high school degree and hoped to one day becoming an engineer.

Hasan genuinely enjoyed his time spent at Safeway, and when his Store Manager went on an extended leave, he happily stepped into the role of temporary Assistant Manager.

“During my time as Assistant Manager, I noticed how many long term employees were working at Safeway, and how happy they all looked,” Said Hasan. “That’s when I knew that I wanted to stay at Safeway. I put my dream of becoming an Engineer on hold, and put my full focus on my job – with the downside of not receiving the higher education that my mom wished for me.”

While at Safeway, Hasan took every opportunity to connect with customers and colleagues to better his language and social skills. Little did he know that these simple connections would lead him to success. “I was casually talking to few colleagues who mentioned Safeway’s Education Assistance Program, and I became hopeful and excited again,” said Hasan. “It offered the possibility of getting the education that I was supposed to get.”

With the mentorship of his Store Managers, Ahmad Abdallah and Ric Lockhart, and the support of Safeway’s Education Assistance Program, Hasan continued his studies and recently graduated from the University of Calgary with a Certificate in Professional Management.

“I started life a few steps behind the average person,” shared Hasan. “I was born in a small village in Turkey. My family was poor and uneducated. I came to Canada without knowing English and had no life or work experience. If Safeway didn’t offer such a great education program, I wouldn’t be able to go to school, continue improving myself, and overcome the disadvantages that I was born into.”

Not only has Hasan excelled within his store and studies, but his hard work, dedication and commitment has paid off in his personal life. In addition to receiving his Certificate, Hasan purchased his first home and became a Canadian citizen – all in one month.

Through our Education Assistance program, we support our employees in pursuing education in job-related areas that will help them perform more effectively in their current role, or to support their development for future advancement with Safeway. We know that continuing education and lifelong learning are important parts of personal and professional development, and strive to equip our employees with the skills they need to win.

If you’re a full-time employee with six months of continuous service, or a part-time employee with two years of continues service, and are interested in learning more about the Education Assistance program, speak to your Store Manager for information on how we can help you to build a long-term career with Safeway.

“The value of the Education Assistance program is more than a dollar amount to me,” said Hasan.

Safeway B.C. proudly celebrates 30 years of partnership with Special Olympics

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

At Safeway, the foundation of our business has always been rooted in meaningful relationships with the communities we serve. While we’ve created many traditions over the years, one we are most proud of is our commitment to giving back.

One of our treasured and longest-standing partnerships is with Special Olympics British Columbia (SOBC). As we proudly celebrate 30 years with SOBC, we’re taking a look back at what started it all.

In 1989, Safeway and Coca-Cola Canada joined forces to raise funds for SOBC by donating 25 cents from every six-pack of Coca-Cola sold in stores across the province during the month of March, which was proclaimed as Special Olympics month by the provincial government. Our campaign was a resounding success, raising more than $40,000 for SOBC! Over the next four years, the campaign raised more than $125,000 to support SOBC’s growth during a crucial time in their development.

Today, Sobeys Inc, remains a strong supporter of Special Olympics athletes. To date, together with our customers and teams, Sobeys Inc. has contributed more than $2.8 million in support of nutrition education, food access, and local community programming through Special Olympics.

We are so proud to be a driving force in defining the Special Olympics movement in Canada. In addition to raising vital funds for SOBC programs, our campaigns offer an important opportunity to raise awareness for Special Olympics, and help to spread a message of acceptance and inclusion across the globe. Thank you to our teams who continue to join us on this journey!

Beltline Safeway is getting a makeover!

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Exciting changes are coming to Beltline Safeway! As we continue our commitment to building and strengthening Safeway’s future, we are significantly investing in a number of stores this fiscal year.

Slated for a grand re-opening in late August, 2019, our first renovation has kicked off at Beltline Safeway. The renovations will help us meet the changing needs of our customers and create differentiated and exceptional experiences to better compete in today’s marketplace.

Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, Beltline Safeway opened its doors in 1997 and was last revamped more than 13 years ago. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. The community has grown steadily and so has the competitive landscape; food trends are more focused on health and wellness, and customer preferences and shopping habits continue to evolve.

Some of the upgrades and expanded services that will drive customer experience at Beltline Safeway include:

  • A new front-end “queuing system” where customers will form one line and await the next available cashier, or self check out, to optimize the checkout experience and reduce wait times.
  • New self-serve hot food counter with a variety of ready-to-eat meal options including Chinese and Indian cuisines, a salad bar and pizza counter.
  • Expanded seating area to accommodate up to 30 people, an increase from the 8 seats currently available.
  • New Wellness and Natural Source Departments stocked with organic, gluten-free and natural products. A full-time Wellness Counsellor will also be on-hand to offer advice and answer food and health related questions.
  • Expanded full service meat and seafood departments.

Beltline Safeway remains open throughout the renovation which means displays, aisles, products and entire departments are being rearranged as different areas of the store are worked on. Kudos and many thanks to the store team for working through the changes and maintaining quality standards and service to our customers and community.

Be sure to check in on our closed Facebook group for exciting progress updates, and stay up-to-date on Safeway Talks for more highlights from the Safeway network!

We need to focus on the future

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Over the last few weeks we’ve received complaints from employees that UFCW 401 was aggressively approaching them about the provincial election. Now we are seeing the union’s focus shift to a campaign against the Company. This is distracting in our stores and will ultimately hurt our brand with customers. It is unfortunate that UFCW 401 has chosen to try and insert a wedge between employees, Safeway and our customers.

Safeway management and employees have been working hard to strengthen our stores. We are seeing early signs of progress, but there is still much more to do. Over the last few months we’ve been celebrating great teamwork. Watching our stores stand side-by-side to support Green Shirt Day, support local suppliers like Souptacular, celebrate 25 years supporting the Friends Helping Friends food drive, get creative with Easter and Maple Month celebrations and even celebrate International Women’s Day has been incredible.

From the beginning, we have been clear about our areas of focus: We are focused on the future of Safeway as well as meeting customer preferences by introducing FreshCo to the Alberta market. Strengthening our Safeway stores and introducing FreshCo to Alberta will make our company stronger and more competitive. This will help us continue to provide stable jobs for our valued employees.

We need to stay focused and work together as a team.

We will be back at the bargaining table in May and hope that UFCW 401 will be ready to focus on the future. We have made it clear to the Union that, as is customary in bargaining, the Company’s wage rate proposals will come during a future phase of bargaining. Negotiations so far have been focused on operational and collective agreement language issues.

The Company’s bargaining committee is at the table to negotiate an agreement that will create a level playing field with our competition and secure a strong future for our employees and our business. We will continue to update you as we progress through bargaining.

Summer Show and Sell sparks excitement at Safeway Garrison Woods

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

After what felt like a never-ending Canadian winter, the team at Safeway Garrison Woods were sparked with a little summer joy as they celebrated Show and Sell on April 10 and 11.

Garrison Woods is a large location. Store manager, Brian Powrie, in addition to department managers, the MRO team and store support teams, invested weeks of preparation and were proud to stand side by side in celebration of an exceptional job well done.

“The show and sell process brought the entire store team together,” said Brian. “Our strong team of department managers and employees worked so well together. The planning, the organizing, the multiple idea creating sessions and the execution of our plan worked out perfectly. Teamwork is the key to success!”

We connected with the team of department managers at Garrison Woods to learn a little bit more about the importance of Show and Sells, what’s new in their departments, and why they’re passionate about Safeway.

Tommy Au – First Assistant

What’s new and exciting within your department?

There’s a number of exciting hero items that are coming for summer 2019, including a variety of Spirited Mickie BBQ sauce and new Compliments sparkling waters. There’s even a new private label pop rocks cookie – I loved pop rocks candy growing up, so the new cookie I’m sure will bring back great childhood memories.

What have you learned through the Show and Sell process?

We built relationships with backstage teams, celebrated successes, and overcame challenges together. The stock room felt like it was going to explode some days, full of new and exciting merchandise, but the labour and sweat put into it was most definitely worthwhile.

What areas of your role are you most passionate about?

I am thrilled to be given the creative license to merchandise and incorporate our two-cents into store displays. Our team worked hard to come up with creative ways to showcase product, and the end result was a stunning store that is ready for business.

 

Ashley Carlton – Second Assistant

What’s new and exciting within your department?

We’ve created excitement in the grocery department by bringing in some new products local to Western Canada, including Blue Kettle salsa from St. Albert, and Zazubean vegan chocolate out of B.C.

Why are Show and Sells important – to your team and to the store overall?

Show and Sells allow us to examine our store standards, while inspiring us with new ideas, and encouraging us to build thoughtful displays that carry a theme and draw customers in.

What have you learned through the Show and Sell process?

I learned the value of “editing”. By de-cluttering our store, it’s easier to shop and displays are more impactful. We also saw that through thoughtful and collaborative planning, and tailoring offerings to our demographic, our displays can look this good year round.

 

Emilia Dunphy – Deli Manager

What’s new and exciting within your department?

We have three new selections of natural meats free of preservatives, hormones, gluten, sugar or dairy. We have also a new snack section perfect for the active customer to take on picnics and hikes. We anticipate it to be a big hit this summer!
We also have a new parmesan shredder in our department which allows us to shred cheese for our customers on demand.

What have you learned through the Show and Sell process?

I’ve learned how important it is to keep up with the times. We need to introduce new products that are healthy and convenient for our customers, as we know these are two major factors in their purchasing choices.

What excites you as we look forward to the summer season?  

We are a very busy department in the spring and summer. With our assortment of healthy and convenient choices, I’m excited to offer a one-stop shopping experience for our customers.

 

Adam Collins – Meat Manager

What’s new and exciting within your department?

We are redefining many of our displays for summer execution. With our new layered four-foot kabob and burger displays, we’ll drive the ‘wow-factor’ and become a destination for summer BBQ entertaining.

What excites you as we look forward to the summer season?

I’m excited for the impact that the fresh new look will have on customers. The new signage will separate us from our competitors, and I’m excited for customer feedback on how to make an already great shopping experience even better.

 What makes you most proud of your store and/or the Safeway network in Alberta?

I’m proud to work alongside a team that comes to work with a sense of pride and unity, committed to ensuring an outstanding shopping experience for our customers. We are pillars in the community, and I’m proud that we are competing in the market again. The changes taking place are for the good, and we’re set to shine above competitors.

 

Brendt Tkachuk – Produce Manager

What’s new and exciting within your department?

We’re excited for the new showcasing of fruit and tomatoes at the front of the store, creating an impactful display as soon as customers enter. This section has generated a tremendous amount of sales already.

 What areas of your role are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about the selection of fresh, local produce that is at the heart of our department. I’m able to educate staff and customers about our local offering, as well as the complete supplier process from farm to plate.

What excites you as we look forward to the summer season?  

I am most excited for our excellent seasonal produce. From cherries, to stone fruit, to watermelon, the warmer weather brings along a larger variety of local products. Each week brings a new wave of great produce. It’s amazing to deal directly with local growers to select really high quality products that entice our customers.

 

Wen Lin – Bakery Manager

What’s new and exciting in your department?

We completely changed the bakery department layout. It’s now easier for our customers to find the products they want, and the department looks more tidy and streamlined overall.

What area of your role are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about creating stunning showcases that appeal to our customers. I’m always so ‘wow-ed’ by the amazing cupcakes and cakes we dream up. The execution is amazing, and sales have been great.

 What makes you most proud of your store?

While I have only recently joined the Garrison Safeway team, our Bakery team really came together throughout the Show and Sell process, putting in extra effort to make the department shine.

 Congratulations to Brian and the entire Garrison Woods Safeway team! Your hard work, dedication and commitment shine bright in your outstanding work – thank you! Be sure to stop by the Garrison Woods the next time you’re in the neighborhood, and stay up-to-date with us at www.safewaytalks.ca.

Sensory-friendly is welcomed with open arms at Willowbrook Safeway

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

At Safeway, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive shopping environment that meets the diverse needs of our customers. We know that not all families are the same, and we are committed to doing our very best to ensure that each and every one of them feels invited and welcomed in our stores.

For those with autism or sensory sensitivities, lights and sounds can often be overwhelming. Visiting a grocery store, like ours, can be an intimidating and uncomfortable experience. After seeing the positive reception in Nova Scotia and PEI stores, the Willowbrook Safeway team, spear-headed by Deli Manager and Mom of a four year old son with Autism, Ashley Baresinkoff, saw an opportunity to introduce sensory-friendly shopping in Langley.

Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Willowbrook Safeway turned off half of the lights; silenced music, telephone and register sounds; halted shopping cart gathering, and rather than using the store’s intercom, assigned a runner to pass messages around the store. With the outstanding support of our retail employees, the store was truly transformed into an inclusive sensory-friendly environment that meaningfully impacted our customers. Read more about Willowbrook’s work in the great story covered by CBC News.

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we sometimes take advantage of seemingly quick and easy tasks such as shopping for groceries. But when we take a step back and evaluate the needs of our customers, we know this isn’t the case for all families. Way to go, Willowbrook team, for serving our communities and creating an inclusive environment that welcomes all customers to Safeway

*Willowbrook Safeway will continue to host sensory friendly shopping hours in the coming weeks, including April 12, 19, May 3, 17 and 31 from 4-5 p.m.

Bargaining with UFCW 401

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

After ten days at the bargaining table we wanted to restate our objectives – and set the record straight on some information shared by UFCW 401.

From the beginning, we have been clear about our areas of focus: We are focused on the future of Safeway as well as meeting customer preferences by introducing FreshCo to the Alberta market.

Strengthening our Safeway stores and introducing FreshCo to Alberta will make our company stronger, more competitive. This will help us continue to provide stable jobs for our valued employees.

UFCW 401 recently published some misleading information that we would like to correct.

Q&A Session with Ken Woo, VP, Alberta Operations

UFCW 401 asked Ken to return to the bargaining room on March 19 to answer questions about the business. Ken accepted the invitation and came back to talk about operational issues – not company finances or bargaining proposals. The Union has unfairly misrepresented Ken’s attendance at this meeting. Ken and his team of District Operators and Store managers have been working hard alongside store teams to support employees and improve operations and performance. These attacks are not productive.

The Company has been very clear – we are willing to share confidential financial information with the Union bargaining committee, so they can better understand our position and understand the challenges we face. So far, they’ve declined to receive the information.

Our commitment to give back

Recently, The Sobey Foundation made a generous donation to St. Mary’s University. The vast majority of this donation was provided by The Sobey Foundation. Sobeys Inc. also contributed to the donation, just like we do with numerous other charitable causes across Canada every single year.

Supporting the communities we proudly serve through charitable giving has been deeply rooted in our history. Last year, Sobeys Inc. invested more than $15 million dollars in food and charitable donations nationally.

Over the last year, we’ve donated to The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, The Calgary Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Society, Make-a-Wish Northern Alberta, The Calgary Food bank, The Calgary Police Foundation, Hockey Canada for the 2017 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge… the list goes on. It’s unfair for the union to suggest that our charitable giving is not focused in Western Canada.

Our message: We need to work together

We need to focus on working together and strengthening our Safeway stores. Let’s not get distracted from our goal. We are seeing progress but there is still a lot more work to do. We can only get it done with our shared passion for Safeway and teamwork. Thank you for all the hard work you do in stores, day in and day out.

The Safeway bargaining committee is at the table to negotiate an agreement that will put us on a level playing field and secure a strong future for our employees and our business. We’re back the table in May and are looking forward to quickly getting into productive negotiations with the Union committee.

Visit Safeway Talks regularly where we will share exciting stories about our progress as a team.

 

Alberta Safeway stores stand side-by-side to support Green Shirt Day

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Safeway stores across Alberta joined forces on April 7 to honour Logan Boulet and proudly recognize Green Shirt Day.

Logan was in his third season as a defenseman with the Humboldt Broncos when a devastating team bus accident took place on April 6, 2018 that shook the world. The accident claimed the life of Logan and 15 additional players and staff, and left 13 others injured.

Just weeks prior to the crash, Logan told his parents of his desire to donate his organs. Though they never imagined having to uphold his wish so soon, when the horrible accident took place, they knew what to do. While Logan’s gift saved an astounding six lives, it was the aftermath of his inspirational donation that left his family, and the community, in awe. Following the donation of his organs, an estimated 100,000 Canadians registered their intent to donate their organs – a spark that quickly became known as the “Logan Boulet Effect.”

One year following Logan’s passing, his parents deemed April 7 “Green Shirt Day for Organ Donor Awareness & Registration.” When our Safeway teams heard of the opportunity to support, they didn’t hesitate to rally together and jump on board.

Spearheaded by Stephen Sheridan at Safeway Crowfoot, employees wore their green loud and proud to uphold the “Logan Boulet effect” and inspire organ donation. Supported with in-store marketing and check-out prompts, retail teams drove awareness, sparked meaningful conversations and proudly encouraged organ donation registration with customers.

Again and again, our Safeway teams show us what it truly means to be a family nurturing families. When a neighbour’s in need, you never hesitate to join forced and take action. Take a look at just a few examples of outstanding support below, and click here to register as an organ donor today.

Stay up-to-date with us at www.safewaytalks.ca.

Safeway Crowfoot – Calgary, AB

Safeway Westmount Centre – Edmonton, AB

Safeway Dalhousie Station – Calgary, AB

Safeway Medicine Hat Mall – Medicine Hat, AB

Safeway Garneau – Edmonton, AB

Safeway The Grange – Edmonton, AB

Safeway Callingwood – Edmonton, AB

Safeway Westhills Towne Centre – Calgary, AB

Safeway B.C. Stores jump on-board to celebrate first of the season halibut!

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

When you think of spring in B.C., there’s a pretty good chance that you also think of Halibut. Halibut has been commercially-harvested off the west coast of Canada since the late 1880s and has played a vital role in shaping our economy, culture and cuisine. While our fishery has provided the world with delicious (and healthy!) food for years, we think it’s safe to say that nobody appreciates first of the season halibut quite like us at home.

As they always do, our Safeway stores in B.C. pulled out their very best merchandising skills to mark the first of the season. From outstanding product displays and fun in store signage, to employees in fishing gear and even a boat parked out-front, our stores went above and beyond to surprise, delight and excite our customers. Throughout the season, a variety of top quality halibut products will take centre-stage in our seafood departments for our customers’ cooking pleasures.

Our Safeway teams never back down from a fun challenge, and your skill, pride, and creativity continue to shine bright as we create exceptional customer experiences. Take a look at just a few of the excellent displays below, and jump on-board with us to celebrate B.C. halibut in your local Safeway store!

 

Safeway Oakridge – Vancouver, B.C.

Lynn Valley Safeway – North Vancouver, B.C.

Safeway Prince Rupert – Prince Rupert, B.C.

Safeway Extra Willowbrook – Langley, B.C.

Safeway Peninsula Village – Surrey, B.C.

Safeway Powell River – Powell River, B.C.

Safeway Local Supplier Spotlight: Souptacular Soup Company

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

As part of our “Look for Local” in-store offering, we are committed to sourcing and celebrating the great local products from communities right across Canada. We are proud to partner with hundreds of local suppliers to not only bring the best products to our stores, but also to invest in our local communities.

A great example comes from our partnership with Alberta-natives, Marueen and Al Obrigewitch, who are the creators of Souptacular Soup Company. Showing incredible growth since hitting our shelves, Souptacular is available in 78 Safeway, Sobeys and IGA stores across Canada.

We sat down with Maureen to learn more about how they built Souptacular:

 Share a little bit about your background and how your company came to be

Al grew up in Luseland, Saskatchewan, where everyone had huge gardens and enjoyed natural food. He attended the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and received his cooking degree. We met during his cooking practicum near Jasper, Alberta.

My folks owned and operated “Folding Mountain Resort,” a beautiful spot with a campground, cabins, a gas station, and a restaurant, where I began cooking at a very young age. Homemade meals were served to guests morning and night. After meeting Al, we persuaded him to work for us at the resort and the rest is history!

We eventually settled in St. Albert, Alberta, where Al had many great cooking opportunities over the years. In 2001, we started entering local Farmers’ Markets with various food products and discovered our passion for bean and lentil products. Souptacular was born!

Tell us about Souptacular

Souptacular is an easy, dry, “just add liquid” (water or broth) ready-to-cook soup mix. Souptacular uses homemade seasonings and is vegetarian and vegan friendly – no chemical or meat bases. Souptacular is perfect for stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pots. It’s high yielding and loved by kids; we’ve experimented for years on our three boys!

In what ways have your local roots impacted your business?

Our local roots run deep. Since 2001, we’ve taken our time to tweak, adjust, change and experiment with our soups at farmers markets and craft shows. At high-end Alberta craft shows, we always tell our customers they can find us at Safeway!

Why were you interested in working with Safeway?

We knew that Safeway offered wonderful support to local suppliers, like us. We had just finished our final packaging refresh and were working to appeal to the retail market more.

What growth has your company seen since partnering with Safeway?

Our partnership with Safeway has been very well received. Safeway has provided the opportunity for our business to finally enter the grocery store space and sit alongside national brands. This was a wonderful opportunity to grow!

Our three boys now have established roles within Souptacular Soup Company, and we are thrilled that they have the chance to learn how to run a business – and experience all the challenges that go with it!  We call that kind of success, “the crackers in the soup!”

Be sure to check out Souptacular Soup Company the next time you’re in one of our West Safeway, Sobeys or IGA stores, and stay tuned to Safeway Talks for more Safeway Local Supplier Spotlights!