Albertsons

Joe Albertson opened his first store in Mountain Home, Idaho, in 1939, launching a business model built on self-service and low prices that would eventually redefine American grocery shopping. The company expanded rapidly throughout the mid-20th century before undergoing major ownership shifts, including a sale to SuperValu in 2006 and a buyback by Cerberus Capital Management in 2011. A pivotal moment arrived in 2015 when the firm merged with Safeway, creating the second-largest supermarket operator in North America behind only Kroger.

Today the brand operates more than 2,200 stores under over 20 distinct banners such as Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets, Shaw's, and Star Market. These locations span across the United States and employ approximately 270,000 people who manage everything from fresh produce sections to pharmacy services and fuel centers. The company maintains a strong regional identity while leveraging its massive scale to compete with national discounters like Walmart and Costco.

Recent years have brought significant turbulence for the retailer. In October 2026 Meg Whitman took over as CEO after leading eBay and HP, tasked with steering the company through financial headwinds that included declining sales and lower net income in the second quarter of that year. The leadership team announced a comprehensive business review seeking to unlock over $8 billion in value, which sparked concerns about potential asset sales or store closures. Despite these challenges, the organization is pushing forward with digital initiatives, including an AI-driven strategy and a new retail media arm led by former Walmart executives. [edit]