Employee Benefit Plans and Collective Bargaining Agreements (Reconciliation of Changes in Retirement Plans' Benefit Obligations, Fair Value Assets, and Statement of the Funded Status) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Components of net amounts recognized in financial position:
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations (non-current liability)	$ (914.5)	$ (904.5)
Pension [Member]
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Beginning balance	2,424.5	2,257.2
Service cost	42.5	39.6	36.1
Interest cost	113.9	122.9	125.8
Plan amendments	0.4	1.0
Actuarial loss (gain)	203.4	149.0
Plan participant contributions	0	0
Benefit payments	(158.8)	(136.2)
Currency translation adjustment	9.5	(9.0)
Ending balance	2,635.4	2,424.5	2,257.2
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Beginning balance	1,641.4	1,652.2
Actual return on plan assets	204.6	(37.9)
Safeway contributions	152.1	169.0
Plan participant contributions	0	0
Benefit payments	(158.8)	(136.2)
Currency translation adjustment	6.4	(5.7)
Ending balance	1,845.7	1,641.4	1,652.2
Components of net amounts recognized in financial position:
Other accrued liabilities (current liability)	(2.3)	(1.3)
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations (non-current liability)	(787.4)	(781.8)
Funded status	(789.7)	(783.1)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Beginning balance	131.1	132.8
Service cost	2.5	2.4	2.3
Interest cost	5.6	6.8	7.2
Plan amendments	0	(2.3)
Actuarial loss (gain)	2.1	(0.5)
Plan participant contributions	1.0	1.6
Benefit payments	(8.4)	(8.9)
Currency translation adjustment	1.1	(0.8)
Ending balance	135.0	131.1	132.8
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Beginning balance	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Safeway contributions	7.4	7.3
Plan participant contributions	1.0	1.6
Benefit payments	(8.4)	(8.9)
Currency translation adjustment	0	0
Ending balance	0	0	0
Components of net amounts recognized in financial position:
Other accrued liabilities (current liability)	(7.9)	(8.4)
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations (non-current liability)	(127.1)	(122.7)
Funded status	$ (135.0)	$ (131.1)