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Nominate a Special Olympics athlete teammate for an unforgettable experience

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

We’re excited to announce a unique opportunity for one of our Special Olympics athlete teammates to attend the upcoming Special Olympics Winter Games (February 27 – March 3, 2024) in Calgary.

And we need your help in choosing this deserving teammate …. here’s how!

Nomination Period:

Between January 17 and January 26, we encourage you to nominate a teammate who is a Special Olympics athlete and who not only embodies the spirit of the Special Olympics, but also its core values of empowerment, excellence, respect, diversity, and inclusion.

Nomination Process:

Nominating is simple! Fill out this online form, and in 500 words or less share how your nominee exemplifies Special Olympics values. Ensure your nominee is…

  • aware of and has agreed to the nomination before you submit it.
  • available to travel from February 27 to March 3.
  • has a support person available to travel with them during this time.
  • comfortable with completing the correspondent duties indicated below.

And remember, your nominee must be both an active Special Olympics athlete and a teammate who’s not currently participating in the Winter Games.

The Adventure:

The chosen teammate and their guest will embark on an unforgettable journey to the Special Olympics Calgary Winter Games. What makes this experience even more extraordinary is that the selected teammate will serve as our special correspondent, capturing the behind-the-scenes magic of the Games that we’ll share with all teammates to give you an inside look at the Games. In addition to attending the Special Olympics Winter Games, the chosen teammate will also enjoy a Calgary Flames hockey game and explore the breathtaking beauty of Banff or Lake Louise.

Selection Process:

The winner will be selected by members of a panel comprised of the Community Investment, DE&I, Operations, and HR teams, and announced in mid-February. This recipient will be selected based on the strength of their connection to the core values of the Special Olympics.

So don’t delay — submit your nomination today and help us provide one of our teammates with an incredible experience!

Meet Your Safeway 2022 & 2023 Top Value Champions

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

As a Company that lives our values in everything we do, we’re so excited to officially reveal our 2022 and 2023 Value Champions.

With over 1,200 nominations, choosing the semi-finalists and winners was certainly not easy. We read stories that made us laugh, and some that made us cry. But after every story, we were left feeling so incredibly proud … proud that these teammates are the fabric of our business.

Check out the list of our nearly 200 Value Champions semi-finalists who are most deserving of our praise.

Without further ado, we’re so proud to share that we’ve got not one, but two Safeway Top Value Champions. Selected as two of only eight top winners, this is an outstanding accomplishment. Like we promised, each winner will receive an epic experience to celebrate their big win in style. We’ll be sure to give you an inside look at their adventures soon.

Community-Engaged: Ashish Errappa

Store Manager at Safeway City Centre Mall in Thompson, Manitoba

Ashish is the true definition of a compassionate, forward-thinking leader who goes above and beyond to serve the distinct needs of his community. Ashish’s local Indigenous community shared a desire for more local grocery and fresh bakery options. So, he shifted his offering to better provide what his community needs. On top of that, Ashish makes it a priority to give back and there’s a long list of community causes he supports, like food banks, schools, and the Boys and Girls Club, to name a few. He even spearheaded a $10,000 Community Action Fund donation of frozen turkeys to Manitoba Keewantinowi Okimakanak Inc. as part of 820 holiday hampers that went to families with food insecurity. There’s no doubt that Ashish exemplifies all that we stand for!

Results-Oriented: Janet Shabatoski

Pharmacy Technician at Safeway Callingwood in Edmonton, Alberta

Janet is the complete package — as a person, teammate and leader. With her can-do attitude, Janet consistently goes well beyond her normal duties to support her team, but most notably, she did so when her manager was on leave. Without hesitation, Janet stepped up to keep the pharmacy running smoothly. Managing invoices, orders, staff schedules, and getting the team through the challenging cyber security incident, Janet did it all, and we’re so proud of her.

 

We’re nothing without our values, and it’s clear that our winners are admired by their teammates for being dedicated, kind, resilient, and incredibly hard-working. Talk about a world-class team.

Once again, congratulations to each winner. Our values make us stronger, together. You’re proof of this.

Don’t forget! Submissions are now open for 2024 — nominate a Value Champion today.

Inspired by a teammate who embodies the values that are at the heart of who we are? Think they deserve an epic experience of their own? Honour their efforts by nominating them using this form.

 

Alberta wage update

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

Teammates,

As indicated in our last communication, we committed to keeping you updated regarding the timing of the upcoming wage increases. Teammates who are eligible for increases and retroactive payments can expect them to appear on your next pay deposit on December 21, 2023.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts in preparing the stores for the busy weeks leading into the end of the year. The stores look great, and we are well-positioned to win the holiday season!

Wishing you and your family happy holidays,

Julie Sue Wood
VP, Operations, Prairies

Making the season merry and bright with Compliments and Panache

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

With the holiday season upon us, many of our customers (and teammates, too!) will be hosting holiday parties and get-togethers… and you can’t have a festive celebration without appetizers, right?

That’s right, we can all sleigh the holiday season by preparing the perfect appetizers that will delight our friends and family. Here’s a roundup of a few of our Own Brands appetizers that will surely make it on our customers list. And they don’t need to check it twice!

1. Compliments Charcuterie Trio

It’s so true… everyone flocks to the charcuterie board at holiday gatherings. It’s the definition of easy entertaining and has something for everyone. And we have not one, but three savoury deli meat Charcuterie Trios in stores to choose from. Which one is your favourite? Hard to choose, isn’t it?

  • Hungarian, Cervelat and Peppercorn Salamis
  • Dry-Cured Genoa Salami, Salami with Prosciutto and Prosciutto
  • Dry-Cured Spicy Genoa Salami, Dry-Cured Genoa Salami and Prosciutto

Best of all, pair any of the trios — or all of them — with our Compliments Double Cream Brie Cheese and assortment of crackers for charcuterie board perfection. You’re welcome!

2. Compliments Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Move over buffalo chicken wings! These healthier, but just as scrumptious, cauliflower bites are packed with flavour.

Crispy and smothered in a tangy, spicy buffalo sauce, these bites will certainly amp up your appetizer game to the next level.

We doubt there’ll be any left over!

3. Panache French Onion Soup Bites

 Do you love French Onion soup, but don’t enjoy the hours it takes to make? Well then, this app is for you!

These cheesy, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth bites will definitely elevate your holiday spread this season. Trust us — once you taste one, you’ll be back for more.

Tip: We suggest you have an extra box on hand because they’ll be in high demand!

4. Panache Shrimp Dim Sum Collection

You can’t go wrong with shrimp — and this Shrimp Dim Sum Collection has it all with three different shrimp apps in one convenient pack!

We’ve got siu mai, har gow and shrimp dumplings, accompanied by a soya ginger sauce for all those dippers out there.

We have a very good feeling that this may become one of your go-to hosting appetizer. Yum!

With these great quality Compliments and Panache products (and many other favourites) that we’re proud to offer in our Safeway stores, we know we can meet all of our customers’ holiday entertaining needs.

So whether you’re purchasing these products for yourself, bringing them to a special holiday occasion or recommending them to customers, let’s work together to win our busiest season and make our Own Brands products #1 in our stores.

Happy Holidays!

Alberta wage reopener update

Posted on by Daniela Travierso
“Our people are what makes Safeway great. I believe that as a team we must all focus on building a strong future for the Safeway team of today and tomorrow.”
— Julie Sue Wood, VP, Operations, Prairies

Teammates,

As many of you are aware, we and UFCW 401, received the arbitration decision on the final offer selection process. I must admit we were a bit shocked at the decision.

While our Union partners might tell you otherwise, we do believe in supporting our teammates. To do this, we must look at the big picture to ensure we are building a sustainable future for us all. The deal that the Arbitrator approved is going to put immense pressure on our business. What might look like a short-term victory, could create real challenges for all our teammates in the future.

Operating as a grocery retailer through these highly inflationary times is challenging. Like so many other businesses, we are managing a delicate balance in Alberta and do not want to tip the scales in the wrong direction. The labour costs in the arbitration decision threaten the little stability we are trying to build upon in Alberta.

Following a review of the Arbitrator’s decision, we feel that several critical errors were made. Right now, the Company is filing a Judicial Review Application, which means a judge will review the decision to ensure that the decision was reasonable and the process was fair. This does not mean that we will not or do not want to process wage increases for those impacted. In the coming weeks, we will let you know how we will move ahead and the date when you can expect your wage increase and retroactive pay.

We are going to move forward with our values in mind, respecting our teammates and this process along the way. I would like to thank all of you for your patience as we work through the details of this decision.

 

Julie Sue Wood
VP, Operations, Prairies

‘Tis the season for holiday display magic

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

It’s official — the holiday season is in full swing!

From produce to the floral and bakery department, and through every aisle, our Safeway stores are buzzing with the festive spirit.

Taking centre stage is our 2023 Holiday campaign, reminding customers that their local Safeway store is here for everything needed to create their special holiday meals.

Holiday season after holiday season, we continue to be amazed at how you bring the campaign to life. Just seeing all of the magical yet unique holiday displays in stores now, its clear that the spirit of innovation is flourishing at Safeway.

Together, we have what it takes to win our busiest season. Let’s continue to show our customers that shopping with us is second to none.

Here’s only a handful of merchandising displays that will surely wow our customers all season long. Go team go!

There’s trees within a tree! Talk about thinking outside of the box. Way to go, Castlegar Safeway (B.C.)!

Safeway Tyndall Square (Winnipeg, MB) has all your Panache holiday entertaining needs in one spot!

What’s better than a tree made out of cookies? Nothing! Collingwood Safeway (Vancouver, BC) surely agrees!

These festive editable creations from Seafair Safeway’s (Richmond, B.C.) Bakery department look too good to eat!

Poinsettias galore! Great display, Swift Current Safeway (SK)!

English Bay Safeway (Vancouver, B.C.) is ready and waiting for Santa!

Congratulations to our 2023 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

On September 21, we held a graduation event in Winnipeg to celebrate our Safeway store management trainees (SMT) and department management trainees (DMT) who successfully completed the 2023 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear it for ….

  • Kiefer Childerhose (SMT)
  • Ashley Gard (DMT)
  • Jemelle Pagulayan (DMT)
  • Sharon Bowman (DMT)
  • Anthony Hanson (DMT)
  • Scott Smith (DMT)
  • Nicholas Dahl (DMT)
  • Kyle Milner (DMT)

                 

(First photo) Congratulations to all Manitoba Nourish U graduates!           
(Second photo) From left to right: Greg Warner, District Operator; Anthony Hanson, DMT graduate; and Danielle Rhoda, Director of HR Operations

But like any graduation, career development doesn’t stop there. Each graduate was provided with the tools to create an individual development plan and are encouraged to always have an area of focus as they progress through their careers at Safeway.

Are you considering taking this career leap? There’s no better way to be inspired than hearing from a recent grad about why you should invest in yourself.

“My time in the DMT program was a fantastic experience. Not only did I learn how to hone my management skills into a more effective tool at work AND become more confident in my job, but I met many wonderful people within the Company, many either in my same position or mentors who help guide me still today.” — Anthony Hanson, DMT Graduate

Congratulations once again to each graduate! We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2023 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

On September 20, we held a graduation event in Thunder Bay to celebrate our Safeway store management trainees (SMT) and department management trainees (DMT) who successfully completed the 2023 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear it for ….

  • Ali Naderi (SMT)
  • Brandon Convery (DMT)
  • Margo Tse (DMT)

     

(First photo) Graduates from left to right: Ali Naderi, Margo Tse, and Brandon Convery         
(Second photo) From left to right: Loretta Friesen, District Operator; Margo Tse, DMT graduate; and Julie Sue Wood, VP of Operations – Prairies  

But like any graduation, career development doesn’t stop there. Each graduate was provided with the tools to create an individual development plan and are encouraged to always have an area of focus as they progress through their careers at Safeway.

Are you considering taking this career leap? There’s no better way to be inspired than hearing from a recent grad about why you should invest in yourself.

“The Nourish U program provided me the opportunity to connect with my peers and build relationships that will last throughout my career. In the breakout rooms during the workshops, we were able to get different perspectives on ideas which I found valuable in my learning.” — Margo Tse, DMT Graduate

Congratulations once again to each graduate! We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Congratulations to our 2023 Nourish U Safeway Graduates

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

On September 14, we held a graduation event in Regina to celebrate our Safeway store management trainees (SMT) and department management trainees (DMT) who successfully completed the 2023 Corporate Nourish U Management Training Program.

Let’s hear it for ….

  • Jessie Deyholos (SMT)
  • Marylyn Guna (DMT)
  • Liubov Soroka (DMT)
  • Adam Walsh (DMT)
  • Lucas Neithercut (DMT)

     

(First photo) Graduates from left to right: Adam Walsh, Marylyn Guna, Lucas Neithercut, Jessie Deyholos, and Liubov Soroka                                 
(Second photo) From left to right: Shannon Scherle, District Operator; Liubov Soroka, DMT graduate; and Julie Sue Wood, VP of Operations – Prairies  

But like any graduation, career development doesn’t stop there. Each graduate was provided with the tools to create an individual development plan and are encouraged to always have an area of focus as they progress through their careers at Safeway.

Are you considering taking this career leap? There’s no better way to be inspired than hearing from a recent grad about why you should invest in yourself.

“The program helped me to step out of my comfort zone, to be more open, and to gain the confidence I needed to succeed. The lessons we learned have made the work I do easier. I’m also very grateful for the excellent support from our instructors, which helped me a lot. Overall, it was an amazing experience that I would definitely recommend to others! I want to thank my team again for believing in me and for giving me this opportunity.” — Liubov Sorokin, DMT Graduate

Congratulations once again to each graduate! We couldn’t be prouder to have you as part of the Safeway family, and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

Nourish U is our leadership development program for corporate Store Manager (SMT) and Department Manager (DMT) training. It’s the very best opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, get to know our teammates, and understand our products. But Nourish U is more than just an education tool — it’s the engine that kick starts our culture, brings together our brightest minds, and establishes a foundation for every successful career at Safeway.

If you’re interested in applying for an upcoming Nourish U Program cohort, visit the Nourish U tile in the People Portal for more information, or speak to your manager who’s always available to help.

Safeway Local Supplier Spotlight: Squamish Water Kefir Company

Posted on by Daniela Travierso

We’ve been supporting local suppliers for as long as we can remember, and helping our Canadian food entrepreneurs flourish continues to be an important part of who we are and what we stand for.

This is why we’re happy to put a well-deserved spotlight on some of our incredible partners. We recently met up with Kristin Campbell, co-founder of Squamish Water Kefir Company, to learn all about her company’s delicious products filled with healthy probiotics and digestive enzymes.

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

Sabrina Horlyck (the other half of Squamish Water Kefir Co.) and myself are self-proclaimed health nuts who had long suffered from nagging gut issues until we found relief from adding fermented foods into our diets.

The first batch of water kefir was brewed in Sabrina’s kitchen while she was studying at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition on a personal quest to cure her intestinal issues. She was quickly amazed by the results and was even more ecstatic when her family loved it. Soon Sabrina was delivering to friends and neighbours in a little red wagon with her young daughter in the back. The defining moment came when Sabrina received a text message from someone who tried her “magic potion,” and it was then that she knew she was onto something good.

I had travelled the world as a yoga teacher, teacher trainer, and studio owner. I had just sold my remaining shares in NeoWhistler YYoga and was looking for a new gig. While out for a run together, Sabrina pitched the idea to partner up, and a YES leapt out of my mouth before my mind caught up! We decided to sign up for the next Squamish Farmers Market and we sold out in a couple of hours on a rainy Sunday in September. It was green lights from then on and Squamish Water Kefir Co. was born in 2015.

Sabrina                           Kristin

Can you tell us more about your products?

Your gut talks to your brain and your brain talks to your gut — and both benefit from fermented foods. By consuming fermented foods, you’re adding beneficial bacteria and enzymes to your intestinal flora, increasing the health of your gut, and strengthening the digestive and immune systems.

  • Sparkling Probiotic Soda with over 2.5 Billion Live Vegan Probiotics in every can. Flavours include Blood-Orange, Lemon-Ginger, Berry Berry, Mojito Mint and Lemonade Iced-tea.
  • Pure Water Kefir with over 215 Million Live Vegan Probiotics in every ounce. This can be used in smoothies, salad dressings or taken as a daily gut shot.
  • Probiotic Popsicles, the first of their kind with the first ingredient being water kefir and up to 2 Million Vegan Probiotics per pop! Flavours include Lemonade, Fudge, Grape and Horchata.

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

British Columbia is known for its stunning natural beauty and environmental consciousness. That’s why it was important to us to do our part in minimizing our environmental impact. We use eco-friendly packaging, all of which are purchased within a 100 km radius of our facility in Squamish, and we promote recycling initiatives.

In addition, B.C.’s well-established health and wellness culture, with a strong demand for products that offer health benefits, inspired and motivated us to go in this direction with our business — and we’re happy we did!

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

Safeway is a trusted and recognizable brand that truly supports (and believes in) local businesses like ours. Having our products on your shelves helps us widen our customer reach, boost sales, and increase visibility of our products so we can fulfill our vision of providing nutritious and delicious products to all.

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

We were ecstatic when we got the news that Safeway was placing an order. It felt like a rite of passage! Seeing our innovative products on your shelves has lifted our confidence in continuing to grow our business.

What makes you most proud to partner with Safeway? 

Partnering with such a renowned brand gives our business an added sense of credibility and validation, reflecting positively on the quality and appeal of our products. Not to mention, it gives us so much pride to work with a company that shares our same values — a commitment to sustainable and community-centric practices.

What growth has your company seen since partnering with Safeway?

It’s still early days, but we’ve seen an uptake in sales over the last couple months, and we hope to see this continue. We’d also love to see our products in Safeway stores across Canada, too.

What’s next for you and your business?

We’re innovators at heart! Our company was the first to market with our Sparkling Water Kefir/Probiotic Sodas and Probiotic Popsicles, and we have another product line in the works. Stay tuned on Instagram @squamishwaterkefir for updates.

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Squamish Water Kefir is now available in 15 Safeway stores throughout B.C. (with more to come!). Be sure to try these yummy products that are good for your gut health, too.

Keep an eye out for more Safeway Local Supplier Spotlights coming your way soon!