Category: Homepage

Southland Crossing Safeway Closure

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Today we announced the difficult decision to permanently close the Southland Crossing Safeway store in Calgary. The store will close on August 31, 2019 at 6 p.m.

The decision to close a store is never taken lightly. Various factors are taken into consideration and unfortunately, despite the hardworking efforts of our team the store continues to underperform. The lease term for the store expires in October 2019 and as a result, we will not be renewing the lease agreement.

We are grateful for the dedicated service that the store team has given to the Southland community. We know news like this can be difficult and are committed to working closely with impacted employees, and their respective unions, to ensure all terms of their collective agreements are met. Wherever possible, we are providing transition support to employees who will move on to new opportunities.

Let’s stay focused on securing a strong future for Safeway

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

UFCW 401 has recently launched a campaign against the Company and the Sobeys brand. It’s unfortunate to see that the Union continues to lack focus on what matters most – bargaining for the future of Safeway. These public stunts are unproductive and only stand to hurt us all.

While the union is investing their time in non-productive campaigns that seek to damage our brand and negatively impact our sales, we remain focused on securing a strong future for Safeway and introducing FreshCo to the Alberta market.

You can see through our remodel and expansion of the Beltline Safeway store, show-and-sell plans, and commitment to local suppliers that we are putting the right plans in place to ensure our employees and our stores are positioned to win.

We want to work with our employees to build a stronger business, improve our customer experience and make Safeway an even better place to work. We agree with UFCW 401 when they say that Safeway is a great place to work. We disagree with UFCW 401 when they say that all Sobeys wants to win is a “retail race to the bottom”.

While we remain committed to achieving a fair and competitive agreement, the union continues to make our discussions more challenging than needed. We hope the Union will join us with a focused approach at the table. Our store teams continue to prove their dedication and commitment, and with your hard work and the strong plans we have in place, we are confident we can get Safeway back on track.

Safeway Local Supplier Spotlight: Cornerstone Acres Ltd.

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

As we continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the outstanding local products in our stores, we sat down with Alberta’s very own, Cornerstone Acres Ltd. We spoke to Amanda Knelsen, owner and operator, about her family’s journey to success (now available in 13 Safeway and Sobeys stores in Edmonton!) and the impact of Safeway’s support:

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

Myself, my husband Tyler, and our four children own and operate Cornerstone Acres Ltd., formerly known as Cornerstone Gardens.  We started our farm in 2012 by growing produce and selling it at local Farmers’ Markets. Our attention to detail and high standard for quality, fresh produce allowed our farm to grow at a very quick pace and we have been expanding ever since. In 2018, we connected with Sobeys at their Local Supplier Road Show and turned our attention to growing green and yellow beans, which we are now supplying to 13 Safeway and Sobeys stores in the Edmonton area.

Tell us about Cornerstone Acres Ltd.’s products

We grow fresh green and yellow beans, with a focus on producing the highest quality products possible. We also produce potatoes, carrots and beets for a limited number of stores. This year we will also be supplying garlic and asparagus.

In what ways have your local roots impacted your business?

We have long believed that Canadians can be self-sufficient in most ways, and we believe in keeping things as local as possible. We believe that competition is vital to a healthy economy, and supporting small local businesses is a way to keep balance in a community. With this in mind, we strive to be the best that we can be in our field.

What growth has Cornerstone Acres Ltd seen since partnering with Safeway?

Our operations have nearly doubled in size after partnering with Safeway for only one year! We are looking forward to another significant expansion this year, too.

What are your biggest learnings since partnering with Safeway?

We have learned how to be more efficient in our operation. We’ve learned to focus on one product and to strive to prefect it, rather than focus on many products at once. Since we can focus on fewer vegetables at a higher quantity, we can be more efficient and pay even closer attention to the quality of the vegetables that we produce.

It has been a great learning experience for not only us, but also for our children as they take on more responsibilities.

What makes you most proud to partner with Safeway?

We are proud to partner with Safeway for two reasons: their commitment to supporting local suppliers, and their commitment to high quality goods.

What’s next for you and Cornerstone Acres Ltd?

Going into the 2019 growing season, we are excited to supply many more stores in the Edmonton area. We hope to eventually supply all the stores in the province of Alberta.

 

Take a stroll through the produce aisle and check out Cornerstone Acres Ltd. products on your next visit to an Edmonton Safeway store. Stay tuned to Safeway Talks for more local Safeway Supplier Spotlights!

 

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.