POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned does hereby
nominate, constitute and appoint Robert A. Gordon, Linda C.
Sayler and Suzan S. Rowland, or any of them, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorneys and agents, to do any and all acts
and things and execute and file any and all instruments which
said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary
or advisable to enable the undersigned (in her individual capacity
or in a fiduciary or any other capacity) to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")
and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),
and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") in respect thereof, in connection with the
preparation, execution and timely filing of (i) any report or
statement of beneficial ownership or changes in beneficial
ownership of securities of SAFEWAY INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), that the undersigned (in her individual capacity or
in a fiduciary or any other capacity) may be required to file
pursuant to Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act, including specifically,
but without limitation, full power and authority to sign the
undersigned's name, in her individual capacity or in a fiduciary
or any other capacity, to any report or statement on SEC Form 3,
Form 4 or Form 5 or to any amendment thereto, or any form or forms
adopted by the SEC in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, and (ii)
any report required under Rule 144 of the 1933 Act on SEC Form 144
relating to sales of securities of the Company which are exempt
from the reporting requirements of Rule 144, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall
do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

This authorization shall supersede all prior authorizations to act
for the undersigned with respect to securities of the Company in
these matters, which prior authorizations are hereby revoked, and
shall remain in effect for so long as the undersigned (in her
individual capacity or in a fiduciary or any other capacity) has
any obligations under Section 16 of the 1934 Act with respect to
securities of the Company.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of
October 2004.



 /s/ Melissa Plaisance
 Melissa Plaisance