Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jun. 14, 2014 subpoena	Jan. 02, 2015	Feb. 20, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015	Feb. 15, 2015	Feb. 25, 2015
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of subpoenas from the DEA	2
Purchase commitments not completed at year end				$ 257,800,000
Handling of Hazardous Waste Case [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of settlement		9,900,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Third Motion Equities Master Fund Ltd v. Safeway [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of shares held by plaintiff					563
Subsequent Event [Member] | Merion Capital LP and Merion Capital II LP v. Safeway Inc. [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of shares held by plaintiff						10,500
Subsequent Event [Member] | Cicairos, et al. v. Summit Logistics and Bluford, et al. v. Safeway Inc. [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of settlement			31,000,000
Settlement fund			30,200,000
Amount of interest			$ 10,000