Taxes on Income (Components of (Loss) Income Before Income Tax Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							4 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2012	Jun. 16, 2012	Mar. 24, 2012	Sep. 10, 2011	Jun. 18, 2011	Mar. 26, 2011		Dec. 29, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic											$ 471.5	$ 500.3	$ 549.6
Foreign											356.9	381.8	331.6
Income before income taxes	$ 157.6	$ 177.6	$ 123.7	$ 196.3	$ 218.9	$ 157.2	[1]	$ 369.6	[2]	$ 309.7	$ 828.4	$ 882.1	$ 881.2

[1] In the first quarter of 2011, Safeway incurred an estimated tax charge of $80.2 million as a result of the decision to repatriate $1.1 billion from Safeway's wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary.

[2] In the fourth quarter of 2012, Safeway results included a pre-tax gain from legal settlements of $46.5 million.