Category: Provinces

Keeping you informed as bargaining continues

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

We returned to the bargaining table this week to resume discussions with UFCW 401. As one Safeway team, we’re dedicated to keeping you up-to-date with accurate information as bargaining continues.

From the very beginning, we’ve been clear about our areas of focus: securing a strong future for Safeway, and introducing FreshCo to the Alberta Market to better meet customer preferences. Strengthening our Safeway stores and introducing FreshCo to Alberta are necessary to make our company stronger and more competitive. We continue to be clear on the Company’s goals and will keep doing what’s right to make sure our employees, our stores and our company are successful.

This week’s labour discussions largely focused on the recent closure announcement of Southland Crossing Safeway. We openly discussed the process for relocating employees and reiterated our ongoing commitment to providing support for those impacted.

Later in June, the Union has agreed to join us for an overview presentation of the FreshCo discount experience to further understand why introducing it to the right markets in Alberta is so important to our business.

As negotiations continue, we’re committed to achieving fair agreements and are hopeful that the union will stay focused and dedicated in upcoming discussions. You can count on the Safeway bargaining committee to be at the table, ready to negotiate an agreement that will secure a strong future for us all.

We’ve seen progress in our Alberta Safeway stores, but there’s still more to do to win back our customers. We know that we can get it done, but not without your shared passion for Safeway and continued teamwork. Thank you for all that you do in our stores.

We will continue to share updates as negotiations progress.

 

Safeway B.C. is beyond excited to celebrate the arrival of the Beyond Burger!

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Just in time for barbecue season, the revolutionary plant-based Beyond BurgerTM that everyone’s been buzzing about has officially hit Safeway! With 20g of plant protein, no GMOs and no soy or gluten, it’s the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks and satisfies like beef.

The Beyond BurgerTM is ideal for vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians or meatless Monday marauders who want grillable, plant-based alternatives that deliver on flavour.  Whether they’re grilled on the deck, the dock, the campground or the kitchen, the Beyond BurgerTM is sure to satisfy our customers’ cravings!

As a destination for plant-based alternatives, we’re committed to providing Canadian families with the diverse food offerings they love, including great-tasting meat, dairy and gluten alternatives. We continue to focus on expanding our vegan and plant-based offering and are excited to welcome many new and innovative products to our shelves in the near future.

In addition to Safeway, the Beyond BurgerTM is also available in our Sobeys, Foodland & Co-op, IGA, IGA extra, Marchés Tradition, Bonichoix, Rachelle-Béry, Thrifty Foods and FreshCo stores across Canada.

Take a look at a few of the exciting Beyond BurgerTM displays in our B.C. Safeway stores, and keep an eye on our website, flyer, mobile apps, email, social media and billboards as we celebrate May as “Beyond Meat Month!”

Safeway Quesnel – Quesnel, B.C.

Safeway Castlegar – Castlegar, B.C.

Safeway Ocean Park – Surrey, B.C.

Safeway McBride – New Westminster, B.C.

Brooks Safeway Cashier proves the big impact of a small act

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Diana Graham is known to lend a helping hand wherever needed in the Brooks Safeway store. Whether its front end support or file maintenance, Diana is committed to helping her store win. And when she saw a customer in need of a little support, Diana didn’t hesitate to offer a small act of kindness.

A customer had finished her shopping and was headed to check out when she entered Diana’s lane. Diana scanned her items, but unfortunately, was unable to process the transaction on the customer’s card. Together, they tried another till – but no such luck, and the card was once again declined. “As her card kept declining, I could tell she was getting more embarrassed and frustrated, to the point of almost tears,” shared Diana. “Nobody should ever have to feel embarrassed, so I just paid for it and asked her to pay it forward to someone else.”

While the total was no more than $10, Diana’s kind act resonated with the customer. The customer took to social media to share her exceptional experience in the store and her gratitude for Diana’s selflessness. “It’s important to treat everyone with respect,” said Diana. “It can leave a meaningful impact on someone’s life. I’m thankful for my job, and every customer is just as important as the next.”

Way to go, Diana, on an exceptional example of kindness, generosity, and putting the customer first! Thank you to all of our outstanding Safeway teams who continue to go above and beyond to serve our customers.

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.