Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 14, 2014	Jun. 15, 2013	Jun. 14, 2014	Jun. 15, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenue	$ 8,307.2	$ 8,149.8	$ 16,345.0	$ 16,151.0
Cost of goods sold	(6,167.7)	(6,004.0)	(12,096.2)	(11,879.9)
Gross profit	2,139.5	2,145.8	4,248.8	4,271.1
Operating and administrative expense	(2,015.3)	(2,006.3)	(4,064.1)	(4,017.5)
Operating profit	124.2	139.5	184.7	253.6
Interest expense	(51.9)	(64.1)	(103.1)	(128.3)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency	45.3	0	(107.8)	0
Other income, net	8.3	16.6	22.0	22.9
Income (loss) before income taxes	125.9	92.0	(4.2)	148.2
Income taxes	(45.3)	(29.5)	1.1	(26.1)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	80.6	62.5	(3.1)	122.1
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	15.0	(53.7)	0.1	5.5
Net income (loss) before allocation to noncontrolling interests	95.6	8.8	(3.0)	127.6
Noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	0	(0.4)	0.9	(0.3)
Net income (loss) attributable to Safeway Inc.	$ 95.6	$ 8.4	$ (2.1)	$ 127.3
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations (dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.51
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations (dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (0.23)	$ 0.00	$ 0.02
Basic earnings per common share: Total (dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Continuing operations (dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.50
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: Discontinued operations (dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ (0.23)	$ 0.00	$ 0.03
Diluted earnings per common share: Total (dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic (shares)	228.8	238.7	228.5	238.0
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted (shares)	230.7	240.8	230.3	239.7