Safeway
Inc. (“Safeway” orthe “Company”)
is one of the largest food and drug
retailers
in North America. At year-end 2006, the Company operated 1,761
stores in the Western, Southwestern, Rocky Mountain, Midwestern
and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and in Western
Canada. In support of its stores, Safeway has an extensive
network of distribution, manufacturing and food processing
facilities.
Safeway, through its subsidiaries, operates Groceryworks.com,
an
Internet grocer doing business under the names Safeway.com,
Vons.com and Genaurdis.com.
Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Safeway,
provides third-party gift cards, prepaid cards and sports
and entertainment cards to North America retailers for sale
to retail customers.
Safeway also holds a 49% interest in Casa Ley, S.A. de C.V.,
which at year-end 2006 operated 127 food and general merchandise
stores in Western Mexico.