Segments (Summary of Sales Revenue By Similar Product Type) (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
Increase in revenue and cost of goods sold												413.5
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												44,206.5		43,630.2		41,050.0
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								100.00%		100.00%		100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Non-Perishables [Member] | Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												17,635.1	[2]	17,512.9	[2]	17,364.4	[2]
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								39.90%	[2]	40.10%	[2]	39.90%	[2]	40.10%	[2]	42.30%	[2]
Perishables [Member] | Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												15,792.7	[3]	15,899.6	[3]	15,430.8	[3]
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								35.70%	[3]	36.50%	[3]	35.70%	[3]	36.50%	[3]	37.60%	[3]
Fuel [Member] | Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												4,974.2	[3]	4,596.6	[3]	3,187.9	[3]
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								11.20%	[3]	10.50%	[3]	11.20%	[3]	10.50%	[3]	7.80%	[3]
Pharmacy [Member] | Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												3,835.1		3,874.8		3,881.0
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								8.70%		8.90%		8.70%		8.90%		9.40%
Other [Member] | Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other revenue												$ 1,969.4	[4]	$ 1,746.3	[4]	$ 1,185.9	[4]
Percentage of total sales and other revenue								4.50%	[4]	4.00%	[4]	4.50%	[4]	4.00%	[4]	2.90%	[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] Consists primarily of grocery, soft drinks and other beverages, general merchandise, meal ingredients, frozen foods and snacks.

[3] Consists primarily of produce, meat, dairy, bakery, deli, floral and seafood.

[4] Consists primarily of wholesale sales, commissions on gift cards and other revenue. Prior to 2011, Safeway recorded Blackhawk Network distribution commissions on the sale of certain gift cards, net of commissions shared with other retailers. In the first quarter of 2011, Safeway determined that these commissions should be reported on a gross basis. This change increased both revenue and cost of goods sold in fiscal 2011 by $413.5 million but had no impact on identical-store sales, gross profit dollars or net income. Previously reported results are not adjusted because the impact is immaterial.