Employee Benefit Plans and Collective Bargaining Agreements (Canadian Multi-Employer Plans) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Jan. 01, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multi-employer pension plan contributions	$ 310.0		$ 312.2		$ 292.3
Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total of plan assets			1,845.5	[1]	1,721.3	[1]
Actuarial present value of accumulated benefits			2,534.5	[1]	2,392.5	[1]
Multi-employer pension plan contributions			142.5	[1]	135.3	[1]
Safeway contributions	22.7	[1]	22.9	[1]	23.0	[1]
Total collective bargaining agreements (agreements)	27	[1]
Most significant collective bargaining agreements (agreements)	11	[1]
Most significant collective bargaining agreements, % headcount	66.00%	[1],[2]
Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multiemployer plans, funded status percentage			65.00%		65.00%
Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Multiemployer plans, funded status percentage			80.00%		80.00%
UFCW Pension Plan BC [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total of plan assets			1,811.6	[1]	1,434.0	[1]
Actuarial present value of accumulated benefits			1,492.8	[1]	1,448.3	[1]
Multi-employer pension plan contributions			51.3	[1]	47.8	[1]
Multiemployer plans, funded status percentage			80.00%		80.00%
Safeway contributions	19.2	[1]	19.7	[1]	17.7	[1]
Total collective bargaining agreements (agreements)	3	[1]
Most significant collective bargaining agreements (agreements)	3	[1]
Most significant collective bargaining agreements, % headcount	100.00%	[1],[2]
Other Canadian Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Safeway contributions	6.8		6.9		6.2
Total Safeway Contributions to Canadian Multiemployer Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Safeway contributions	$ 48.7		$ 49.5		$ 46.9

[1] Plan information is not publicly available. This plan provides monthly retirement payments on the basis of the credits earned by the participating employees. However, in the event that the plan is underfunded, the monthly benefit amount can be reduced by the trustees of the plan. Safeway is not responsible for the underfunded status of the plan which operates in a jurisdiction that does not require withdrawing employers to pay a withdrawal liability or other penalty. The collective bargaining agreements require contributions on the basis of hours worked

[2] Employees on which Safeway may contribute under these most significant collective bargaining agreements as a percent of all employees on which Safeway may contribute to the respective fund.