Income Per Share (Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												4 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 06, 2014		Jun. 14, 2014		Mar. 22, 2014		Sep. 07, 2013		Jun. 15, 2013		Mar. 23, 2013		Jan. 03, 2015		Dec. 28, 2013		Jan. 03, 2015		Dec. 28, 2013		Dec. 29, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (21.2)	[1]	$ 80.6		$ (83.7)		$ 23.4		$ 62.5		$ 59.6		$ 127.5		$ 71.6	[2]	$ 103.2		$ 217.1		$ 249.2
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities																	(2.8)		(2.1)		(2.3)
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders, diluted																	100.4		215.0		246.9
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders, basic																	100.4		215.0		246.9
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	30.7	[1],[3]	15.0	[3]	(14.9)	[3]	43.0	[4]	(53.7)	[4]	59.2	[4]	(21.5)	[3]	3,256.5	[2],[4]	9.3	[3]	3,305.1	[4]	348.9
Noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations																	0.9		(14.7)		(1.6)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Safeway Inc.																	10.2		3,290.4		347.3
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities																	(0.3)		(32.1)		(3.1)
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders, diluted																	9.9		3,258.3		344.2
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders, basic																	9.9		3,258.3		344.2
Net income	9.5	[1]	95.6		(97.6)		65.8		8.4		118.9		106.0		3,314.3	[2]	113.4		3,507.5		596.5
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities																	(3.1)		(34.2)		(5.4)
Net income available to common stockholders after earnings allocated to participating securities, diluted																	110.3		3,473.3		591.1
Net income available to common stockholders after earnings allocated to participating securities, basic																	$ 110.3		$ 3,473.3		$ 591.1
Weighted-average common shares outstanding																	228.8		239.1		245.6
Common share equivalents																	1.9		2.4		0.3
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted																	230.7		241.5		245.9
Continuing operations, Earnings per common share, diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.09)	[1]	$ 0.34		$ (0.37)		$ 0.10		$ 0.26		$ 0.25		$ 0.55		$ 0.29	[2]	$ 0.44		$ 0.89		$ 1.00
Continuing operations, Earnings per common share, basic (usd per share)	$ (0.09)	[1]	$ 0.35		$ (0.37)		$ 0.10		$ 0.26		$ 0.25		$ 0.55		$ 0.29	[2]	$ 0.44		$ 0.90		$ 1.01
Discontinued operations, Earnings per common share, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.13	[1],[3]	$ 0.07	[3]	$ (0.06)	[3]	$ 0.17	[4]	$ (0.23)	[4]	$ 0.24	[4]	$ (0.10)	[3]	$ 13.17	[2],[4]	$ 0.04	[3]	$ 13.49	[4]	$ 1.40
Discontinued operations, Earnings per common share, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.13	[1],[3]	$ 0.06	[3]	$ (0.06)	[3]	$ 0.17	[4]	$ (0.23)	[4]	$ 0.25	[4]	$ (0.09)	[3]	$ 13.36	[2],[4]	$ 0.04	[3]	$ 13.63	[4]	$ 1.40
Total, Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.41		$ (0.43)		$ 0.27		$ 0.03		$ 0.49		$ 0.45		$ 13.46	[2]	$ 0.48		$ 14.38		$ 2.40
Total, Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.41		$ (0.43)		$ 0.27		$ 0.03		$ 0.50		$ 0.46		$ 13.65	[2]	$ 0.48		$ 14.53		$ 2.41

[1] Includes loss on extinguishment of debt of $84.4 million.

[2] In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company recorded a loss on foreign currency translation of $57.4 million and an impairment of notes receivable of $30.0 million.

[3] See Note B Discontinued Operations.

[4] See Note B, Discontinued Operations.