Safeway to Open 4 Rebranded Andronico's Stores

Safeway will open four former Andronico's stores in the San Francisco Bay Area under the Safeway Community Markets banner this week. Andronico's five locations sold to the Pleasanton, Calif.-based grocer last fall, with transition commencing late last month.

The four stores, two in Berkeley, and one each in Los Altos and San Anselmo, will “keep alive the heritage of a local specialty market and provide customers with unique offerings,” such as Mary's Free Range Chicken, Mountain Fruit Jelly and Andronico's secret-recipe “Adult Brownies.” The transformed stores will also offer full-service catering, with a seasonal and fresh menu created from scratch by trained chefs in Safeway's kitchen.

Other highlights will include thousands of local items and organic offerings; Certified Angus Beef cut to order by skilled butchers; a full-service deli with in-store prepared entrees and salads, Boar's Head premium deli meat and cheeses, fresh sushi, made-to-order sandwiches and other ready-to-serve options; an acai bar in one of the Berkeley stores; and bulk foods including everything from grains and nuts to “special treats.” A variety of wines, including expanded import options and sakes, a wide assortment of liquor and a range of craft and local beers will be available for customers, too, as will full-service floral designer, catering and delivery services.

“We are excited to introduce Safeway Community Markets and welcome the employees to the Safeway team,” said Tom Schwilke, president of Safeway Northern California. “These stores will resonate well with the needs and wants of the community. Customers will find tons of local, fresh and organic options with everyday low prices.”

To celebrate the openings, Safeway will present four local nonprofit organizations each with a $5,000 charitable contribution from The Safeway Foundation during opening festivities. The Safeway Foundation focuses on giving locally to help strengthen neighborhoods and change lives. The check presentation will take place in each store, with representatives from Safeway and the recipient organizations in attendance.

Safeway, a banner of the Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies, operates 282 stores in Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii.