## Albertsons Companies: Overview Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, operating over 2,200 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under a portfolio of well-known regional banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market[7]. The company supports its vast retail network with 22 distribution centers and 19 manufacturing plants, employing approximately 285,000 associates[7]. Albertsons Companies is recognized for its focus on customer service, innovation, and a broad product offering that spans groceries, pharmacy, fuel, and digital services. ## History and Foundation The company traces its roots to 1939, when Joe Albertson, a former Safeway district manager, opened his first store in Boise, Idaho, with a $5,000 investment and an additional $7,500 borrowed from his wife’s aunt[1][4][5]. Albertson’s vision was to create a one-stop, self-service supermarket that emphasized quality, value, and customer service—innovations that included in-store bakeries, magazine racks, and fresh ice cream made on-site[2][5]. The first store was an immediate success, and Albertson quickly expanded, opening additional locations in neighboring towns and steadily growing sales[1][3]. By 1945, Albertsons was incorporated, and by the end of the decade, it operated six stores with annual sales nearing $3 million[1][3]. The company went public in 1959, fueling further expansion across the Western United States[1][2]. ## Growth and Key Achievements Albertsons pioneered several retail innovations, such as integrating pharmacies into grocery stores and