The Safeway grocery store near where I live in San Francisco’s Mission District has just completed a major remodel, not just cosmetically with new floors, fixtures and paint, etc., but rather a complete and more intelligent approach to food that makes the shopping experience more enjoyable. Particularly noticable is a new take on higher quality “gourmet” and artisanal foods found typically at higher-end specialty stores like Bristol Farms and, to an extent, Whole Foods.
My job puts me in touch with specialty food companies on a daily basis, so I am familiar with most of the gourmet brands inside and out. I’m very excited to see Safeway stepping up its game to sell many of the products I would have ordinarily had to shop elsewhere to find.
Not only has Safeway’s product offering improved, they have clearly taken steps to become more competitive with their produce selection and quality meats and fish and wine selections.
Yep, the new store layout is great (still trying to find where things are now located) with a more “marketplace” look and feel, but what I really hope is that customers are taking a closer look at what Safeway is now offering and explore what new on the shelves.
