Safeway inks deal with Coinstar

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway is bringing Coinstar's self-service coin-counting kiosks to its U.S. and Canada stores, the supermarket retailer announced Thursday.

Safeway said it agreed to install 1,400 Coinstar kiosks by the end of 2011, with installations slated to begin this month in Safeway stores and its banners, including Vons, Dominick's, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Pavilions, Carrs and Pak N' Save.

"Coinstar brings a turnkey service and two decades of experience managing the operational intricacies associated with self-service coin kiosks," Safeway public affairs VP Brian Dowling said. "We are confident our customers will be pleased with the flexibility of being able to turn their coins into cash, store purchases, or in the future, a gift card."