The Company and Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 24, 2012
The Company and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
The Company and Significant Accounting Policies	THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Safeway Inc. and subsidiaries (“Safeway” or the “Company”) for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 and March 26, 2011 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for such periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to SEC regulations. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. The results of operations for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. Inventory Net income reflects the LIFO method of valuing certain domestic inventories based upon estimated annual inflation. The LIFO method of inventory valuation can only be determined annually, when inflation rates and inventory levels are known; therefore, LIFO inventory costs for interim financial statements are estimated. Actual LIFO inflation indices for the year are calculated during the fourth quarter based upon a statistical sampling of inventories. Safeway recorded $0.5 million of LIFO expense during the first 12 weeks of 2012 and $4.0 million of LIFO expense during the first 12 weeks of 2011.

THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Safeway Inc. and subsidiaries (“Safeway” or the “Company”) for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 and March 26, 2011 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for such periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to SEC regulations. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. The results of operations for the 12 weeks ended March 24, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

Inventory

Net income reflects the LIFO method of valuing certain domestic inventories based upon estimated annual inflation. The LIFO method of inventory valuation can only be determined annually, when inflation rates and inventory levels are known; therefore, LIFO inventory costs for interim financial statements are estimated. Actual LIFO inflation indices for the year are calculated during the fourth quarter based upon a statistical sampling of inventories. Safeway recorded $0.5 million of LIFO expense during the first 12 weeks of 2012 and $4.0 million of LIFO expense during the first 12 weeks of 2011.