Category: Provinces

Safeway stands in solidarity to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Safeway stores across Alberta showed their pride and power last week as they united to celebrate International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day (March 8) is a time for us to acknowledge the powerful achievements of women, and spark meaningful conversations on the work still to be done. This year’s International Women’s Day theme was Balance for Better, emphasizing the importance of gender balance in the workplace.

We’re so proud to recognize the outstanding efforts of our Alberta Safeway employees as they joined forced to celebrate International Women’s Day. Stores personalized their celebrations and drove awareness in communities across the province. From bakery, to balloons, to flowers, our store teams went above and beyond to drive meaningful engagement with local customers.

We know that teamwork and shared responsibility drive a diverse and inclusive work culture, and are both proud and grateful for all of our Safeway employees who have joined us in our commitment to gender balance.

Take a look at the photos below to see how just some our stores celebrated. To see more, visit our Facebook group, “Safeway Team: Connecting Our Stores, Our People, Our Communities.”

8874 – Safeway Wye Road – Sherwood Park, AB
8842 – Safeway Glenmore Landing – Calgary, AB
8912 – Safeway Garrison Woods – Calgary, AB
8803 – Safeway Northgate Calgary – Calgary, AB
8903 – Safeway Aspen – Calgary, AB

Safeway is committed to creating an environment where our employees feel included, respected and valued for their unique perspectives. We know that diversity drives innovation and we recognize the power of a balanced team. With the support of our store network, we are dedicated to increasing the representation of women at Safeway as we strive to reflect our customers and our communities.

Stay up-to-date at SafewayTalks.ca.

Bargaining kicks-off with UFCW 401

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

This week, we sat down with UFCW 401 to begin bargaining.

We are committed to being open with our employees  throughout bargaining and want to share an update on what has happened so far.

At this point, we have exchanged bargaining proposals with UFCW Local 401. We also spent a great deal of time talking about the challenges that we all face given the difficult Alberta economy, extremely competitive grocery industry  and changing customer preferences.

Everyone agreed that we also need to prepare ourselves for the future.

Put simply, we are focused on the future of Safeway as well as meeting customer preferences by  introducing FreshCo to the Alberta market.

Securing a strong future for Safeway includes making sure our collective agreements allow us to compete effectively in the market and operate stores that delight our customers. We’ve made some progress in our Safeway stores in Alberta but there is more work we need to do to attract customers to shop in our stores. We know that if we stay focused as a team we can get there. In bargaining, we are committed to creating conditions that will provide stable jobs and allow our Safeway stores to succeed.

We know Albertans are looking for discount shopping options and because we don’t have a discount format in Alberta, we know they are forced to shop with the competition. By opening discount stores in Alberta we will become more competitive overall.

A competitive Safeway collective agreement and the right foundation for the introduction of a discount format are our two key objectives that go hand-in-hand to secure a strong future for our company.

We wanted to share this with you because our goals are not a secret. We have no hidden agenda. We are simply doing what we need to do to make sure all of us – our employees, our stores and our company – are successful.

Please reach out to your Store Manager along the way if you have any questions. If they don’t have a direct answer for you, we will work hard to get your questions answered.

We’ll keep you updated here on SafewayTalks.ca

Supporting the Humboldt Broncos Billet Program with a $200,000 Donation

Posted on by Varinder Singh

Last April, Canadians united in shock and sorrow when 16 people lost their lives in a tragic collision, including 10 Humboldt Broncos players. In the weeks that followed, our country came together to show support for the victim’s families, team and community.

Local store teams responded immediately following the tragedy by providing food for crisis centre volunteers and flowers, gift cards and care packages for the billet families who provided a ‘home away from home’ for players. Sobeys Inc. also made a $15,000 donation to STARS air ambulance in Saskatchewan to honour the efforts of local first responders and the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. And like our fellow Canadians across the country, Safeway employees showed their support for the Humboldt community by wearing sports jerseys and green ribbons, baking special donuts and cookies, and raising funds in-store.

We also made a promise to stand with the Humboldt Broncos, their families, and the entire community when the team was ready to move ahead. That time came last week ahead of the Humboldt Broncos home opener.

At Elgar Petersen Arena, home of the Humboldt Broncos, we came together again to show our support. Sobeys Inc. announced a $200,000 donation over two years to support the Humboldt Broncos Billet Program. At the event, the Broncos billet families were joined by Jamie Brockman, president of the Humboldt Broncos Board of Directors, Kathleen Keen, Humboldt Broncos’ Billet Co-Ordinator, Northern Saskatchewan District Operator Todd Leibel, Humboldt Sobeys franchisee Dave and Joann Doepker, and Natalina Porpiglia-Dafnis of our Community Investment team.

Each season, the Broncos recruit talented hockey players to play at the junior hockey level. To take advantage of this great opportunity, the players need billet families willing to share their homes. The billet program is an important example of the Humboldt community opening their doors to help nurture and support the young men who begin their journey with the 2018-19 Broncos team, and these funds will go a long way in making that happen. As part of this support, each month one Humboldt Broncos home game will be billed as the Sobeys Family Day Game, where we will provide food samples and giveaways.

Across the country, but especially among Safeway team members in Saskatchewan, we will remain steadfast in our support as the Broncos and Humboldt community continue to heal.

Working hard to compete in today’s grocery landscape

Posted on by Varinder Singh

It’s no secret that how people shop is changing. And so are customer expectations.

Today’s shoppers demand different levels of service, more convenience and more value. That’s why we are working to tap into new opportunities that will keep customers in our stores.

Changing customer trends have led many Alberta retail businesses to rethink their structures, their practices and their offerings to keep people coming back.

Especially as the economy slowed over the past few years, the companies that are successful are those who have changed what they did and how they did it — tightening their belts and adjusting their operations to react faster to industry changes and customer needs.

These changes gave our competitors a leg up in the new economy, and we have to make sure we can position ourselves in a way that allows us to better compete. We need increased operational flexibility and reduced labour costs so we can continue to provide good, stable jobs for our teams across Alberta.

We’ve undergone a lot of change to keep our business healthy. We’ve restructured offices across Canada, improved our Retail Service Centre network and expanded our store offerings, specifically in the area of health and wellness. We’ve also been able to successfully negotiate new collective agreements in other markets that will help us to become competitive in those areas.

There are a lot of options out there to meet customers’ grocery shopping needs. Huge stores like Walmart and Costco have entered our communities and are growing fast, as are discounters like No Frills. In this highly competitive environment, we have to provide the experience shoppers are looking for — so they don’t find it somewhere else.

Now, our evolving store network strategy includes offering our customers more options to address their shopping needs. Many of our customers now have the option to shop at our discount banner FreshCo, as well as our full service banners Safeway, Sobeys and IGA.

We must listen to the needs of our customers to strengthen our growing business and make sure we are able to compete in this new landscape.

Our goal is to build a stable future for our Company — positioning us not only to survive, but to thrive in Alberta. That way we can give our customers what they want and provide thousands of good jobs in communities across the province.

It’s more important than ever to evolve and meet our customers’ changing needs so that we can return to our place as one of Alberta’s leading grocery stores.

Stay up-to-date with us at www.safewaytalks.ca.

Two Winnipeg Safeway Stores converting to FreshCo banner

Posted on by Varinder Singh

Today, Sobeys Inc. announced plans to convert two Safeway locations in Winnipeg to the discount FreshCo banner in order to meet growing customer demand for more competitive food prices. The two FreshCo stores will open in Spring, 2019.

The decision to convert these two stores follows an extensive review of customer feedback and demand, demographics, and the evolving preferences of consumers. Converting these locations to the FreshCo format will allow us to meet the needs of local customers and continue to grow our business.

We remain committed to providing our customers with the best grocery shopping experiences in their communities. In addition to our full-service format stores, the FreshCo stores will now offer customers a discount grocery experience with clear low price messages, an easy shopping experience, and high-quality products at the best value for their money.

As always, we are sincerely grateful for the commitment and dedication of our Safeway employees for providing the best service our customers.  We will work closely with our employees and their union to ensure the terms of the collective agreement are met.

The following Safeway locations in Winnipeg will be temporarily closed for renovations beginning October 13, 2018:

  • Safeway Kildonan Crossing: 500 – 1615 Regent Ave. West, Winnipeg
  • Safeway Jefferson: 920 Jefferson Ave., Winnipeg

The pharmacies at both locations and the gas bar at Safeway Jefferson will remain open and continue to serve customers.

This change will not only better meet the needs of our customers in these communities, but will also help to strengthen our growing business.

We will continue to keep you informed of these two conversions on SafewayTalks.ca.

More time to take part in the Alberta Summer Kickoff!

Posted on by Varinder Singh

We have extended the deadline for the Safeway Talks Alberta Summer Kickoff contest to July 31.

Safeway Talks is the best way to hear first-hand about all things Safeway and we want to make sure all of our Alberta staff have the chance to get involved in the contest.

It’s important to us that we can share news on company updates and exciting initiatives with everyone who works in our stores.

If you haven’t already, visit www.safewaytalks.ca/contest today to enter for your chance to win one of three great prizes:

  • A Big Green Egg barbecue
  • A $750 Safeway gift card
  • A $500 Safeway gift card

If you’re already signed-up, great! Tell your friends and make sure they don’t miss out on the fun. The draw will now take place on August 1.

Thank you for being a valued part of Safeway’s success. Together, we can keep building stronger stores and great teams across Alberta.

Keep checking in with us at SafewayTalks.ca.

Safeway celebrates Canada Day

Posted on by Varinder Singh

Safeway stores across the country were decked out in red and white on Sunday, July 1 to celebrate Canada’s 151st birthday.

Customers visiting our stores over the long weekend were treated to barbecues and celebration events where they had the opportunity to sample some of Canada’s best locally-sourced products and see the impressive Canada Day-themed merchandising displays built by store team members.

Here are a few pictures of our stores:

 

Great job to everyone who gave our customers a memorable and fun-filled Canada Day experience!

Safeway stores kick-off summer season with National Summer Food Fair

Posted on by Varinder Singh

On Saturday, June 23, Safeway stores across Canada kicked off the start of the summer season with the first-ever National Summer Food Fair.

While the celebrations varied slightly from store to store, all of our customers were treated to an afternoon of good food and entertainment at their local Safeway stores all across the country.

Our Summer Food Fair is all about celebrating summer and highlighting our great product offerings so our customers can enjoy a thrilling shopping experience. Themed More Summer, More Fun, More Sun, And More Yum! our customers sampled delicious new products featured in our Summer 2018 magazine to inspire them to “Get More Summer”.

Customers also had the opportunity to sample some great locally-sourced products during the Summer Food Fair.

In addition to the food, fun and games, many of our stores also used the Summer Food Fair as an opportunity to give back to their local communities. Thanks to the generosity of our customers, we were able to raise funds for a variety of local causes and community partners.

Congratulations and a job well done to all of the stores that participated in our first-ever National Summer Food Fair. Your commitment to serving the customers with great service and selection in our Safeway stores gave our customers a great start to summer!

Sign up for the Safeway Talks Alberta Summer Kick Off!

Posted on by Varinder Singh

We’re kicking off this summer with a Safeway Talks contest for our valued Alberta employees!

From June 11 to July 15, 2018, Alberta staff can log onto www.safewaytalks.ca/contest and enter to win:

  • A Big Green Egg barbecue
  • A $750 Safeway gift card
  • A $500 Safeway gift card

Plus, the Alberta Safeway store with the most sign-ups will win a pizza party.

Since you’re already signed up with Safeway Talks, just visit the contest website and re-enter your name, employee number and contact information for your chance to win.

Safeway Talks is a great place to hear first-hand about company updates, industry changes and challenges, and exciting initiatives going on in our own stores. Please spread the word to your friends and coworkers so they can get signed up and take part in the fun too.

Thank you for working hard with us every day to help build stronger stores for our Alberta communities.

Keep checking in with us on SafewayTalks.ca for the latest company news.

Glenmore Landing Expanded Kosher Selection

Posted on by Varinder Singh

We’re proud of our Glenmore Landing store here in Calgary, where an expanded kosher food selection is receiving great feedback from our customers.

“We’ve added nearly 800 new kosher items, sourced from across Canada at the request of our customers. We want to be the place our customers want to shop. To do that, we needed to respond to their needs,” said Safeway Glenmore Landing Store Manager Doug Felker.

Our Safeway stores provide a wide range of options for different consumer needs. Our expanded kosher selection at Glenmore Landing is just one way we are responding to the needs of our customers.

“Carrying kosher meat and products is something we haven’t done in the past. We listened to our customers and they’re thrilled. I’m hearing every day, whether it’s on our social media or in store, our customers are very happy with what we’ve done,” said Felker.

“We created a forum for customers to share their requests for kosher products. We can’t guarantee that we can get everything, but we’ve done our best to get all the products we could get our hands on. They’ll ask me in store, and I said if there is something you don’t see in store, let me know and we can do our best to get it in.”

One of the most exciting parts of the new products at Glenmore Landing is the response Felker has seen and heard from customers in his store.

“We’ve reset our store to profile these products. Customers are congregating around this section and chatting with friends. It’s great to see and great to have our customers back in our store.”

We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in Calgary and across Western Canada with great service and selection in our Safeway stores.