Month: May 2023

A legacy of support: Safeway and Special Olympics Canada

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Our annual Special Olympics Canada in-store fundraising campaign (June 1 – 8) is almost here, but first we’re taking a moment to recognize our Safeway banner for your long-standing history of support.

Did you know Safeway has been supporting Special Olympics since the 1980s? That’s right, we’re talking about decades of helping thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities achieve their goals and dreams.

In fact, it’s because of Safeway’s meaningful involvement with Special Olympics that inspired Sobeys Inc.’s partnership with this organization and led to the birth of our national fundraising campaign in 2016. Since our national partnership began in 2016, we’ve invested over $9 million through sport, health, fitness and nutrition education.

Here’s a few highlights of Safeway’s support over the years:

  • Over the past 15 years alone, Safeway teammates have helped raise nearly $4 million.
  • Before 2014, Safeway stores ran regional in-store fundraising campaigns that supported their local Special Olympics chapters.
  • In 2014, Safeway granted Special Olympics Canada its first-ever exclusive campaign with 100% of the proceeds supporting this organization at a national level.
  • Safeway was a sponsor of the 2020 Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
  • Safeway has also been a proud employer of Special Olympics athletes in the local community, helping to build a powerful understanding of how to create a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Thank you, Safeway teammates, for your unwavering support of Special Olympics in your province and local communities. Your countless contributions have helped to change and enrich the lives of Special Olympics athletes through sport, friendship, fun and mentorship. You’re proof that helping others is, and will always be, part of who we are.

We’re also always on the lookout for Special Olympics champions or athletes in our stores to spotlight. If you know of someone, let us know: communityinvestment@sobeys.com.

Staying focused on our future

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

From May 2 to May 10, we returned to the bargaining table with UFCW 1518 and the bargaining committee. As we’ve said since bargaining started, we’re dedicated to keeping you up to date with accurate information.

Here’s what took place:

  • We’ve made further progress on resolving some non-monetary issues.
  • We received the Union’s full monetary proposal and we’re carefully reviewing it.
  • We’re getting back to the table to resume bargaining this week.

There’s still lots of difficult discussions on complicated topics to take place and hard work on both sides to get this done.

With the many increased costs we’re facing and significant competitive differences between our collective agreements and those of our competitors, we need to find the right deal that balances the aspirations of our teammates and our ability to compete effectively as a full-service operator. This is how we’ll keep improving our Safeway network in B.C.

In spite of the current economic uncertainty and the challenging environment in which we operate, our focus remains on reaching a recommended agreement with UFCW 1518 and the bargaining committee.

Keep a lookout on SafewayTalks.ca for more bargaining updates as negotiations continue.

Thank you for all that you do in our stores.

What a challenging economic environment means for Safeway

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Over the past several months, the possibility of an economic slowdown in Canada has made news headlines.

Stories in newspapers, like the National Post, and on the websites of major financial institutions, like RBC, all point to the same conclusion — an economic downturn is likely at some point this year. The Governor of the Bank of Canada himself, Tiff Macklem, can’t rule out a recession in the near future.

Our own data team has done extensive research into this, too, and has determined the same.

We all know that in a recession customers will be looking for the best price and may choose to shop at discount competitors which will hurt our sales and market share.

This news is not what anyone wants to hear. It’s certainly top of mind for all of us.

In uncertain times, it’s so important that we have a plan for your future — our future. A plan that supports you, as our valuable teammate, and the continued strength of our B.C. Safeway store network.

And this starts with a modernized collective agreement that balances the needs of our teammates while keeping our stores competitive and primed for growth.

As bargaining continues, we’ll keep you informed here on SafewayTalks.ca.

Safeway Local Supplier Spotlight: FreeYumm

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

As we continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the outstanding local products in our stores, we sat down with British Columbia’s very own, FreeYumm.

We spoke to founder Sarah Clarke about her journey to success (FreeYumm now available in 16 Safeway stores in B.C.!) and the impact of Safeway’s support.

Can you share a little bit about your background and how your company came to be?

After my son was diagnosed with various food allergies and sensitivities, he was constantly being left out at snack time. I quickly learned that so many other kids were experiencing the same thing. My determination to find a fun and healthy way to make food both delicious and inclusive led to our initial success, and we quickly expanded our focus to ensure all ages and backgrounds could enjoy our products.

Our goal is for people to be able to share and enjoy food freely. People need to trust their food source, so FreeYumm snacks are plant-based, allergen friendly, gluten-free and kosher. We built our very own dedicated bakery and we’re equally focused on making our food healthful and delicious. There’s no point in making it safe and healthy if people don’t like the flavour!

Can you tell us more about your products?

FreeYumm delivers on incredible flavour without compromising on ingredients. Our lineup of delicious gluten-free snacks includes crackers, bars and cookies. Our most popular items include Cheezy Cracker Bites (yes, they taste like Goldfish Crackers, but better!) and Honey Apple Soft Baked Bars. We use healthy whole food ingredients that are school-friendly and mom-approved. All FreeYumm snacks are free from the top nine allergens: milk (all dairy), peanuts, eggs, wheat/gluten, soy, tree nuts, sesame, seafood, sulphites. Plus, we never use starchy fillers, refined sugars, preservatives, artificial colours or flavours.

In what ways have your local B.C. roots impacted your business?

My family thrives in the outdoors. From hiking to mountain biking and skiing, we’re always finding new places to explore. We’re so fortunate to live in the beautiful playground that is British Columbia. And we want to eat delicious healthy food that supports our healthy living. We found that B.C. is a supportive, forward-thinking and forward-living community, which makes for a great place to introduce something new like FreeYumm! All of that combines into one pretty inspiring place to live and make great snacks for on-the-go families!

As your business began to grow, why were you interested in working with Safeway?

FreeYumm is very excited to be working with Safeway! We have a very loyal customer base and are always asked if we can get our products into your stores. Safeway is such an important Canadian grocery banner, and we know how important it is to customers to have a healthy variety of inclusive snacks. We love your stores and appreciate you supporting our local business.

What did it feel like when you saw your products on Safeway shelves for the first time?

Joy! It was an instant burst of happiness to see FreeYumm products on the shelves at Safeway. It also felt a little surreal to have created something and then see it staring back at me from the store shelves. A proud moment for sure!

What makes you most proud to partner with Safeway? 

To see our cracker bites and cookies on shelf at Safeway is an absolute game changer for so many families, especially those managing food allergies, sensitivities or special diets. Safeway has a rich history in Canada, as well as a dedicated approach to giving back. We’re proud to be working with a company like this that matches our values and is so conscientious in its inclusive food offerings.

What growth has you company seen since partnering with Safeway?

We’re excited that Safeway has picked up our NEW cracker bites! The customer feedback we’ve received on the Pizza and Cheezy Bites has been outstanding and they’re quickly becoming a popular snack item that’s enjoyed by all ages and backgrounds. Many Safeway stores managers have told us that it’s hard to keep them stocked because they’re selling so well. We’re grateful for their enthusiasm for FreeYumm!

What’s next for you and your business?

At FreeYumm, we’re passionate about being a brand that is constantly evolving and catering to the needs of our customers. New products are on the horizon so stay tuned at freeyumm.com, and in the meantime let us know if there’s a product you would like to see from us! Feel free to reach out with any suggestions or feedback at info@freeyumm.com. Thank you for supporting our Canadian mom-owned business!

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Be sure to check out FreeYumm’s brightly coloured products next time you’re in store! Keep on the lookout for more Safeway Local Supplier Spotlights coming your way soon.

Keeping you informed as we return to the bargaining table

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

As we return to the bargaining table this week, we want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to reaching fully recommended agreements. We’ll continue to work towards agreements that allows us to build a strong foundation for the future of Safeway in British Columbia.

For the past few months, our bargaining has been largely focused on resolving some smaller issues. As we move into the next phase of negotiations, the parties will be focused on discussing more complex issues and finding common ground.

We face some significant challenges in the coming years. Minimum wage increases announced for June 1 will have a huge cost impact on our business. Since 2018, minimum wage has increased by 32%.  In addition, we’re facing discount competitors who continue to attract more customers. FreshCo has seen market share growth as some customers seek out price over the services offered at Safeway. All of these challenges will have an impact on negotiations.

While we’re committed to making sure our teammates are rewarded appropriately for their hard work, we must maintain the viability of the Safeway network in this province.

We’ve already invested significantly in the Safeway network and we’re prepared to invest more, however, this will only be possible under the right economic conditions.

The parties must reach an agreement that strikes the right balance between the needs of our teammates, and the operational and competitive requirements of our stores. This is how we’ll achieve long-term success.

We’re looking forward to continuing positive, cooperative conversations with the unions and bargaining committees over the coming weeks.

We’ll keep sharing updates from the bargaining table and encourage you to stay informed as negotiations continue.

As we work through collective bargaining, thank you for your hard work and focus on exceeding each customer’s expectations.