Safeway Launches Haiti Disaster Relief Initiative

Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY) today launched a companywide initiative to provide humanitarian relief for people impacted by the Haiti earthquake. The Safeway Foundation will make an initial contribution of $100,000 to the American Red Cross and UNICEF, two organizations at the forefront of the earthquake disaster relief mission. The company’s stores throughout the U.S. and Canada will immediately begin collecting donations for Haiti Disaster Relief through a checkstand program. In addition, Safeway’s corporate offices and other non-store facilities will conduct employee fundraisers so the company’s entire workforce can contribute to this important effort.

"The people of Haiti are in need of clean water, safe shelter and the basic necessities of life. We know by experience that our customers will want to help in any way they can which will undoubtedly save lives and provide hope amid this tragedy,” said Safeway Executive Vice President, Larree Renda.

Safeway and The Safeway Foundation focus their philanthropy on a range of important causes, including disaster relief. During the past decade the company mobilized its 200,000 employees with outstanding results to raise money for several major humanitarian outreach efforts, including the September 11^th terrorist attacks, the 2005 South Asia tsunami disaster and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Those fundraising efforts raised more than $11 million combined for organizations that provide emergency relief including medical aid, food, shelter and relocation. In addition, Safeway gave $500,000 in supplies and funds to help first responders and outreach agencies during the 2007 San Diego wildfires.

ABOUT SAFEWAY www.Safeway.com

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,730 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $44.1 billion in 2008. The company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY. Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and in 2008 donated more than $248 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education and hunger relief.