Albertsons

Albertsons (NYSE:ABS) is a grocery store chain that operates under the brands Jewel, Osco, Acme, Savon, Super-Saver Foods, and Max Foods, as well as Albertsons. The company announced April 30, 2004 that it has completed the acquisition of JS USA Holdings Inc., adding the Shaw's and Star Markets brands.

Albertsons was founded by Joe Albertson in 1939 in Boise, Idaho. In 1969, it partnered with Skagg's to create the first combination grocery/drug store. Later, Albertsons acquired Seessel's, Smitty's, Super One Foods, Buttrey Food and Drug, and Bruno's. In 1999, the firm also acquired Wal-Mart, Kroger and Costco. Only Kroger has more stores.

The company is in the midst of a pitched battle with retail giant Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's size and scale allows the company to undercut Albertsons in price.

Albertsons is increasingly progressive in the area of technology, recently adding a "check out while you go" system, where shoppers can scan items as they shop, and quickly pay before leaving.

Albertsons also allows (in certain areas) customers to shop from home via the company's website. Pickups can be arranged at the store, or the items may be delivered to the customer's home. In areas where this program is in effect, it is widely advertised over television and radio by corporate spokeswoman Patricia Richardson.

Albertsons has contracts with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the largest grocery union in the United States. In late 2003 and early 2004, Albertsons, along with competitor Ralphs, locked out its workers who were members of the UFCW in Southern California, in sympathy with competitor Vons (owned by Safeway), whose UFCW workers were on strike. The issues in contract negotiations included health care benefits and wage structure. The UFCW lost its bid to keep its benefit and wage language in the contract intact, a reflection of how Albertsons management sees the developing Super Wal-Mart (Wal-Marts with a grocery component) situation in Southern California. Wages and benefits to new Albertsons employees are now reduced compared to those of employees hired before the labor dispute.