Income (Loss) Per Share (Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share) (Details) (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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 80.6	$ 62.5	$ (3.1)	$ 122.1
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(1.5)	(0.7)	(2.2)	(1.3)
(Loss) income from continuing operations available to common stockholders, Diluted	79.1	61.8	(5.3)	120.8
(Loss) income from continuing operations available to common stockholders, Basic	79.1	61.8	(5.3)	120.8
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	15.0	(53.7)	0.1	5.5
Noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	0	(0.4)	0.9	(0.3)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, attributable to Safeway Inc.	15.0	(54.1)	1.0	5.2
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(0.2)	0.2	0	(0.1)
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders, Diluted	14.8	(53.9)	1.0	5.1
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders, Basic	14.8	(53.9)	1.0	5.1
Net (loss) income	95.6	8.4	(2.1)	127.3
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(1.7)	(0.5)	(2.2)	(1.4)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders after earnings allocated to participating securities, Diluted	93.9	7.9	(4.3)	125.9
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders after earnings allocated to participating securities, Basic	$ 93.9	$ 7.9	$ (4.3)	$ 125.9
Weighted average common shares outstanding	228.8	238.7	228.5	238.0
Common share equivalents	1.9	2.1	1.8	1.7
Weighted average shares outstanding	230.7	240.8	230.3	239.7
Earnings per common share: from Continuing operations, Diluted (dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.50
Earnings per common share: from Continuing operations, Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.51
Earnings per common share: from Discontinued operations, Diluted (dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ (0.23)	$ 0.00	$ 0.03
Earnings per common share: from Discontinued operations, Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (0.23)	$ 0.00	$ 0.02
Earnings per common share: Total, Diluted (dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53
Earnings per common share: Total, Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.03	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53