Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 24, 2012	Mar. 26, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenue	$ 10,003.0	$ 9,772.0
Cost of goods sold	(7,317.8)	(7,080.9)
Gross profit	2,685.2	2,691.1
Operating and administrative expense	(2,495.4)	(2,471.9)
Operating profit	189.8	219.2
Interest expense	(71.4)	(65.7)
Other income, net	5.3	3.7
Income before income taxes	123.7	157.2
Income taxes	(42.1)	(132.1)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	81.6	25.1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(8.6)	0
Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests	73.0	25.1
Noncontrolling interest	(0.1)	0
Net income attributable to Safeway Inc.	$ 72.9	$ 25.1
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations	$ 0.30	$ 0.07
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Total	$ 0.27	$ 0.07
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations	$ 0.30	$ 0.07
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Total	$ 0.27	$ 0.07
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	271.4	366.0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	271.9	366.8