It goes without saying that these are truly unprecedented times. We have seen more customers come through our doors in a shorter period of time than ever before. But one thing that has stayed the same is our incredible team. You continue to come to work with a positive attitude, a commitment to serving our customers, and a love for what you do. Thank you for joining us as we stand side-by-side as an essential service that our communities can count on.

In a few days, we’ll be back at the table with the bargaining committee and UFCW 401. We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations and working together on a new collective agreement that will govern how we operate over the next few years. To support these conversations, we’ll have the assistance of a government-appointed mediator who we hope will help to bring attention to the things important to all of us.

While we can’t lose sight of the extraordinary work we’re doing during this pandemic, we also need to ensure Safeway is positioned for success once the impacts of COVID-19 have subsided. Two of the key points we hope to reiterate include:

• Safeway stores in Alberta need to be refreshed and modernized. We are long-term, trusted supporters of so many Alberta communities and we will continue to provide Albertans with a high-quality, full-service grocery option with our Safeway stores. Our Safeway stores need to be bright and inviting to compete in the market. We have plans to invest $200 million to refresh our Safeway stores. However, we need the right collective agreement in place to do so.
• Albertans continue to change the way they shop, and many customers are on the hunt for a reliable discount grocery option. As the economy continues to shift, Alberta families are managing their budgets differently. It’s important that we respond to this customer need for a functional, competitive discount grocery store. To support company growth, while providing Albertans with secure and stable jobs, we need to deliver the kind of stores that our customers want. To do so, we will open new FreshCo stores where our customers have made it clear that there is a need.

We’re looking forward to continuing positive, cooperative conversations with UFCW 401 as we take the steps necessary to begin executing our plan to win, together. We will continue to keep you up to date on progress. Thank you, again, for all that you do in our stores.