Segments (Schedule of Segment Information By Geographical Area) (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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue	$ 10,049.1	$ 10,386.9	$ 10,003.0	$ 10,064.3	$ 10,196.4	$ 9,772.0	[1]	$ 13,767.4		$ 13,597.6	$ 44,206.5	$ 43,630.2	$ 41,050.0
Operating profit (1)	218.3	247.2	189.8	248.3	277.0	219.2	[1]	448.8	[2]	390.1	1,104.1	1,134.6	1,159.4
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
Long-lived assets, net								9,224.6		9,637.6	9,224.6	9,637.6	9,910.2
Total assets								14,657.0		15,073.6	14,657.0	15,073.6	15,148.1
U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue											37,531.5	36,923.2	34,782.4
Operating profit (1)											741.8	745.5	828.8
Income before income taxes											471.5	500.3	549.6
Long-lived assets, net								8,058.1		8,456.2	8,058.1	8,456.2	8,607.2
Total assets								12,535.7		12,982.1	12,535.7	12,982.1	12,448.7
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue											6,675.0	6,707.0	6,267.6
Operating profit (1)											362.3	389.1	330.6
Income before income taxes											356.9	381.8	331.6
Long-lived assets, net								1,166.5		1,181.4	1,166.5	1,181.4	1,303.0
Total assets								$ 2,121.3		$ 2,091.5	$ 2,121.3	$ 2,091.5	$ 2,699.4

[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.