Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 23, 2013	Mar. 24, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenue	$ 9,994.0	$ 10,003.0
Cost of goods sold	(7,325.5)	(7,317.8)
Gross profit	2,668.5	2,685.2
Operating and administrative expense	(2,488.7)	(2,495.4)
Operating profit	179.8	189.8
Interest expense	(65.0)	(71.4)
Other income, net	6.6	5.3
Income before income taxes	121.4	123.7
Income taxes	(2.6)	(42.1)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	118.8	81.6
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(8.6)
Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests	118.8	73.0
Noncontrolling interests	0.1	(0.1)
Net income attributable to Safeway Inc.	$ 118.9	$ 72.9
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.30
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Total (usd per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.27
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.30
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Total (usd per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.27
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	237.4	271.4
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	238.6	271.9