Safeway Sells Canadian Operations to Sobey's - Page 24 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

T@T · 04-30-2016, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

The produce quality has taken an absolute dive at "safeway". The recent trip most of the produce was rotting and I had to walk out with only half of the items I needed. Onions actually had clear soft spots and black mold.

Time to find somewhere else.

Quality down, prices actually up

I could get my stuff from the farmers market for what they want to charge me.

My 83 year old former mother-in-law gave me this tip.

For produce...shop where they sell a lot of it every day, believe it or not Walmart has very fresh produce. It's actually hard any time of the day/night not to see someone re-stocking the produce department.

I don't think it's any cheaper though.

longsuffering · 04-30-2016, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

The produce quality has taken an absolute dive at "safeway". The recent trip most of the produce was rotting and I had to walk out with only half of the items I needed. Onions actually had clear soft spots and black mold.

Time to find somewhere else.

Quality down, prices actually up

I could get my stuff from the farmers market for what they want to charge me.

My wife and I had the experience at the Marda Loop Safeway yesterday. The produce was absolute garbage. They had rotten oranges in amongst their 'fresh' produce.

We're done with Safeway.

Wormius · 04-30-2016, 12:15 PM

Wow. That's quite the shift with Safeway. I didn't think that Sobeys was bad, so I am surprised that quality had gone down so drastically.

Is this everywhere though? I had noticed in my last few outings to Costco and even Coop some produce issues that weren't characteristic of their usual quality.

Fire of the Phoenix · 04-30-2016, 12:22 PM

It's a race to the bottom. All major grocers have had #### produce for a while now. Not one is significantly better/worse than the others, there's just good days and bad days. Years of cutting costs and man-hours to inflate the stock price will do that. As well, these companies treat their managers like crap so most have moved on or don't care any more.

RedHot25 · 04-30-2016, 11:22 PM

Weird.

I am having the exact opposite experience. Crowfoot Safeway here, and the produce is pretty good - about the same its always been. Except its cheaper; I read somewhere that Safeway i\s holding or even lowering prices on some key items and staples (e.g. produce) as a way to get and keep people shopping there.

Is working somewhat for me; I'm more interested in going there for the value overall although my wife keeps wanting Co-op for "local" products apparently.

rd_aaron · 05-01-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Weird.

I am having the exact opposite experience. Crowfoot Safeway here, and the produce is pretty good - about the same its always been. Except its cheaper; I read somewhere that Safeway i\s holding or even lowering prices on some key items and staples (e.g. produce) as a way to get and keep people shopping there.

Is working somewhat for me; I'm more interested in going there for the value overall although my wife keeps wanting Co-op for "local" products apparently.

I am definitely noticing that Safeway produce is cheaper since the takeover. They're marketing it as such in their stores too. Quality has been hit or miss though.

Slava · 05-01-2016, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

It's a race to the bottom. All major grocers have had #### produce for a while now. Not one is significantly better/worse than the others, there's just good days and bad days. Years of cutting costs and man-hours to inflate the stock price will do that. As well, these companies treat their managers like crap so most have moved on or don't care any more.

I would say that the managers/owners (Sobeys went back to a franchise model a couple years ago) do not fit that mould at all. In fact the people I know who work for Sobeys in general are longer term employees in general and are far from what you're describing.

Fire of the Phoenix · 05-01-2016, 12:42 PM

Nm

KTrain · 06-28-2016, 07:48 PM

Sobeys parent company Empire reports massive fourth-quarter loss

Empire Company Ltd. (TSX:EMO.A), parent of the Sobeys supermarket chain, has reported a massive fourth-quarter net loss of more than $900 million, citing "challenges" related to its Canada Safeway acquisition in Western Canada.

Empire said the loss, net of non-controlling interest, was $942.6 million or $3.47 per diluted share, compared with a net profit of $55.4 million or 20 cents per share in last year's fourth quarter.

That contributed to a consolidated net loss for all of fiscal 2016 of $2.13 billion or $7.78 per diluted share, compared with net income of $419 million or $1.51 per diluted share in fiscal 2015.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/sobey...loss-1.2965889

HotHotHeat · 06-29-2016, 01:13 PM

Went to Safeway yesterday. . . Their entire supply of almond milk was expired by four days. The level of mismanagement is actually impressive.

At least they re-enabled tap for debit.

oilyfan · 06-29-2016, 01:21 PM

I always found Safeway produce to be of high quality and well arranged and presented. Recently though (last year or so) I find the quality has declined considerably. Not sure if that is the direct result of Sobey's intervention, but nonetheless. I don't shop there any more, or very infrequently

Komskies · 06-29-2016, 01:52 PM

I only go to Safeway now when I want fresh Spolumbos sausages as my local Sobey's only stocks frozen ones.

Ace · 06-29-2016, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Komskies

I only go to Safeway now when I want fresh Spolumbos sausages as my local Sobey's only stocks frozen ones.

Are you sure Safeway's freezer is not just broken

worth · 06-29-2016, 03:47 PM

where are you guys going instead?

btimbit · 06-29-2016, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Went to Safeway yesterday. . . Their entire supply of almond milk was expired by four days. The level of mismanagement is actually impressive.

I have a theory on this. Shoppers Drug Mart made a pretty big push to improve their front store management a few years ago, and the result was quite a few long time managers from Safeway, Sobey's and other companies going to Shoppers.

This was before Loblaws bought Shoppers and Sobeys bought Safeway, so could very well be a coincidence. But Safeway saw a lot of top guys go to Shoppers for less hours and more pay. This level of mismanagment could be a part of that, since I don't remember Sobey's being this bad before they bought Safeway either.

nik- · 06-29-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Went to Safeway yesterday. . . Their entire supply of almond milk was expired by four days. The level of mismanagement is actually impressive.

At least they re-enabled tap for debit.

Sounds like the Kensington Safeway.

"Hey Safeway, can you point me to the non-expired yogurt section?"

JiriHrdina · 06-29-2016, 08:44 PM

I agree that Safeway has not been the same since the takeover - particularly in the quality of produce.
However, we have had horrible luck with Save On Food when it comes to spoiled food - by far worse than any other store. So much, that I simply don't trust shopping there.
We have switched primarily to Co-op for any fresh food (produce, bakery, meat), even though it is more expensive.

Erick Estrada · 06-29-2016, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I agree that Safeway has not been the same since the takeover - particularly in the quality of produce.
However, we have had horrible luck with Save On Food when it comes to spoiled food - by far worse than any other store. So much, that I simply don't trust shopping there.
We have switched primarily to Co-op for any fresh food (produce, bakery, meat), even though it is more expensive.

I agree. Co-op while being more expensive is the best Supermarket right now for fresh food.

JiriHrdina · 06-29-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I agree. Co-op while being more expensive is the best Supermarket right now for fresh food.

Really its the only choice if that's what one cares about. Sad state of affairs. Lack of competition in the space based on quality product is ultimately bad for customers.

EVERLAST · 06-30-2016, 06:54 AM

Safeway and there are 3 close to me are barely stocking the shelves. The produce is horrid and expired items galore are on the shelves.

The decline is amazing and I have watched prices still go up.

I went to a brand new Sobeys in Evanston and the difference was amazing.

The old safe ways I am sure will not be rebranded and shut down by the way they are operating them especially in this economy.

The coops by me have done a 180 and it's amazing to me how much better they are now but I don't want to pay the prices .....wow ....them and save on nothing foods are insane.

Gotta eat tho.....what do you do.