Author: Daniela Travierso

With summer sadly in the rear-view mirror, we can’t help but turn our attention to the fall… crisp air, cozy sweaters, the taste of pumpkin spice and fresh local apples lining our shelves.

For many of us, the sights and smells (most definitely the smells) of this season are synonymous with the delicious desserts we enjoy with friends and family — from apple pie to pumpkin cheesecake and cranberry cobbler.

And so, in the spirit of this harvest season, we thought we’d roundup a few of our Own Brands dessert products that are sure to thrill and delight Safeway customers in our stores. After all, we all deserve fabulous fall treats.

1. Compliments Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Move over apple pie! The flakey crust and burst of sweet-tart fruit flavour in our strawberry rhubarb pie packs deliciousness into every bite. Whether you serve it warm or at room temperature, this pie will surely be a crowd-pleaser!

2. Compliments Apple with Caramel Filling Muffins

Talk about gourmet flavour! The combination of apple and caramel leave basic behind. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the soul-soothing smell of apple and caramel when warmed up. Don’t you agree?

3. Compliments Lemon Meringue Pie

Yes, we know, pie and the autumn season go hand in hand. And with so many flavours to choose from, we just had to pick more than one.

If you prefer a smooth, rich, and creamy pie, this one is for you! The refreshing taste of our lemon meringue pie is the perfect compliment (no pun intended!) to cap off a weekend meal with friends or loved ones.

We’re so proud to offer these Compliments products (and many other favourites!) in our Safeway stores. We know our customers are looking for the best products for their families, at prices they can afford. Our Own Brands assortment helps to set us apart from our competitors by delivering quality products that fit every budget.

So whether you’re purchasing these products for yourself, bringing them to a special family meal or recommending them to customers, let’s continue to work together to make our Own Brands products #1 in our hearts and minds so that they become #1 in our stores.

Happy fall, y’all!

The Value Champions program is our opportunity to recognize and celebrate teammates who embody our Values every day in our stores, distribution centres, and offices from coast to coast. Our Values are at the heart of the organization and guide our decisions and interactions with teammates and customers. They are the foundation behind our Purpose, a Family Nurturing Families. It is what the Value Champion program is all about.

Teammates who put these ideals into action and inspire others to do the same should be recognized and celebrated.

Have you noticed a Safeway teammate demonstrating one of our Values?

People-Powered — teammates who help their colleagues be their best by listening to and supporting each other, communicating openly and candidly, and encouraging positivity and fun.

Customer-Driven — teammates who go the extra mile for the customer by consistently making customers our priority, understanding their needs, finding ways to thrill them and serve them with pride.

Community-Engaged — teammates who make a difference in our communities by consistently engaging with our communities, giving back, acting in sustainable ways, and supporting local initiatives, entrepreneurs, and suppliers.

Results-Oriented — teammates who drive great results in a fair and ethical way by consistently bringing a winning attitude, delivering on our commitments, finding new and innovative solutions, and are fair and ethical in our decisions.

Nominations Now Open for This Year

Inspired by a Safeway teammate who lives our values that are at the heart of the company?

Be sure to nominate them as a Value Champion, today! The deadline to submit a nomination is April 28, 2023.

When nominating a teammate as a Value Champion, please ensure to provide full details such as their name, their job title, location of work (for example: region, banner, and store number), and the reason why they are being nominated. It is super important! The winning submission is dependent on how much details you provide.

Almost all Corporate Office/Store/RSC teammates can be nominated. The program does not include franchisee teammates.

Selection Process

The Value Champions Selection Committee will be selecting 100 Value Champions finalists for this year. There will be 5 winners, 1 for each value and 1 national winner determined by Operations Vice Presidents.

The Value Champion program will continue to evolve but the core of it will always remain the same: teammates celebrating teammates.

If you have any questions, please contact sobeysrecognitionprograms@sobeys.com or visit SobeysValueChampions.com for more information.

Rest is one of the most important aspects of your self-care plan. Remind yourself of what you can do to recharge and build your own self-care action plan.

What is self-care? It’s any action you take to maintain and improve your health, whether physical or mental, because as we know they’re intrinsically related. Our busy schedules naturally make us think we don’t have time for it, but now more than ever is the time to build self-care into your daily schedule. A recent study has shown that self-care leads to increased self-confidence, productivity and happiness. It can also reduce the likelihood of chronic disease.

Building self-care into your daily routine is the key to success. Remind yourself of the few things we can do every day to check-in with ourselves using our 2-minute mental wellbeing check-in:

Our mental wellbeing strategy focuses on providing resources, education, and raising awareness throughout the organization to let our teammates know that support is here.

Visit SobeysMentalWellbeing.com to learn more about self-care and access the support resources available to you, your family and your fellow Safeway teammates. Below is a summary of a few of those resources.

• EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program):
  • LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) – www.workhealthlife.com
    • English: 1.844.880.9142
    • French: 1.844.880.9143
    • TeleType: 1.877.338.0275
• Togetherall Virtual Peer Support
  • www.togetherall.com/joinnow/sobeys

Today we kick off our third annual fundraising campaign in support of 13 children’s hospital foundations as part of the Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative.

We want to take a moment to celebrate the impact you’ve helped make possible for thousands of children and youth across the country.

When we launched the partnership in 2020 with Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations and the Sobey Foundation, our goal was simple: help children, youth and their families in Canada get the mental help support they desperately need early. And this was in the middle of a pandemic no less.

Safeway teammates have come together in unprecedented ways, building a family of support, and encouraging donations in our communities. The inspiring energy and passion you’ve shown in the last two years has helped enable Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations to take early mental health intervention programming to new heights, with many easily surpassing their five-year goals in just two years. Here’s a few highlights from the 15 programs receiving support:

• 36 new treatment spaces
• Over 7,000 health care providers trained
• Over 20,000 mental health assessments completed

This impact cannot be understated. We’re making a true difference for thousands of children and families across Canada. These aren’t just numbers or stats — these are lives changed.

More about this year’s campaign

From July 26 – August 10, Canadians from coast to coast will have the opportunity to donate when checking out at Safeway and any Sobeys Inc. banner stores.

Every donation stays local and supports your children’s hospital foundation. One hundred per cent of funds raised will ensure more kids can get the mental health support they need early.

A special thanks to YOU, our Safeway teammates and outstanding cashiers, who are bringing this campaign to life by inviting customers to donate. We’re so grateful for everything you continue to do to make this campaign a success!

Resources

• Learn more about our Family of Support at familyofsupport.com
• Sign up year-round for our Healthier Tomorrows Giving Program, where you can donate directly from your paycheque to your choice of over 30 charities, including the 13 children’s hospital foundations we’re supporting through Family of Support.
• Your wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your family, is so important to us. Visit sobeysmentalwellbeing.com to learn more about our mental health resources.

Each and every day, our amazing Safeway teammates go above and beyond for our customers and communities. But today, we’re saying “thanks!” a little bit louder.

We’re proud to have such hardworking and dedicated teammates and we want to show you how much we appreciate you for all you do!

Make sure to check out the poster in your common teammate areas and scan the Virtual Thank You Card QR code on the poster to read messages from Leaders and backstage teammate from all over the country. We want you to know how proud we all are to be your teammates.

We’re also inviting all customers to get in on the “thanks” too! Every Safeway store will have a poster where customers can write their own messages of appreciation.

And there may be even more surprises, so keep a look out!

Snap photos of today’s celebration! We saw great photos from last year’s Grocery Heroes Day celebration and we’re hoping to get the same level of enthusiasm this year. Snap a few great photos throughout the day and post them on the closed Safeway Facebook page.

Happy Grocery Heroes Day and THANK YOU to our very own Safeway frontline heroes! 

In June, we announced that we are a co-owner of the Scene+ loyalty program, along with two other iconic Canadian brands, Scotiabank and Cineplex.

Scene+ will replace the current AIR MILES program in stores and online, beginning in Atlantic Canada in August 2022, and then continuing across the rest of Canada culminating in early 2023.

What is Scene+?

Scene+ is one of Canada’s leading loyalty programs. It offers members opportunities to earn and redeem points when and how they want to be rewarded. Scene+ includes a broad array of rewards partners, including Scotiabank, Cineplex, Expedia, more than 700 restaurants nationwide, and online retailers including Apple and Best Buy.

How will customers earn Scene+ points at Safeway Stores?

When the program is launched, customers will have several ways to earn Scene+ points in Safeway stores including:

• Everyday Rewards: Earn points through weekly flyer events and everyday product offers in-store and online with Voilà
• Personalized Offers: Receive weekly offers customized just for you, delivered to your email or grocery store App
• Banking Products: Earn even more points by shopping with a Scotiabank debit or credit card.

Will customers be able to redeem Scene+ points toward groceries?

Yes. Once the program is launched, customers will be able redeem 1,000 Scene+ points towards $10 off their purchase of eligible products at Safeway.

Where else can customers earn and redeem Scene+ points?

• Travel: With your next escape powered by Expedia
• Dining: With dine-in, take-out and delivery at over 700 restaurants (like Harvey’s, Swiss Chalet and Kelseys)
• Shopping: Earn for shopping online and redeem points at over 60 retailers including Apple and Best Buy
• Movies: At Cineplex Theatres
• Entertainment: At Playdium and The Rec Room
• Banking: Earn even more points by shopping with a Scotiabank debit or credit card and redeem Scene+ points for an account credit on participating Scotiabank debit and credit cards

How will I continue to receive my employee discount?

At launch, you’ll continue to enjoy your employee discount by scanning a Scene+ membership number. More details on how to register your Scene+ number for the discount will be provided in the weeks leading up to your launch.

In the meantime, please continue to scan your AIR MILES card to get your employee discount.

Stay tuned for more information as we get ready to launch Scene+.