Safeway’s Sales Increase

Pleasanton, Calif., Safeway saw its comparable-store sales increase 3.3% and its identical-store sales increase 2.8% for the second quarter of 2005. The company’s total sales increased 4.7% to $8.8 billion for the second quarter of 2005. Last year, Safeway’s total sales were $8.4 billion for the second quarter.

Safeway believes the increase is due to its marketing strategies and recovery from the strike in Southern California last year. Steve Burd, chairman, president and CEO of Safeway, said, “Our strategy to differentiate our offering has resulted in broad-based sales improvement.”

Net income for Safeway, however, decreased for the second quarter. This year’s income was $134 million while last year’s was $155.2 million.