12 Things You Should Know Before Grocery Shopping At Safeway

Back in 1915, Marion Barton Skaggs bought his father's small grocery store in American Falls, ID for just over $1,000. With help from his five brothers, Skaggs helped grow the chain, opening a whopping 428 stores by 1926.

Over the years, Skaggs continued to grow the chain of grocery stores, merging them with his other businesses like Skaggs United Stores and Skaggs Cash Stores to create a corporation. Today there are over 1,3000 Safeway stores across the United States.

Safeway stores were some of the first to introduce produce pricing by the pound, which is still used today. Other fresh ideas that the chain implemented included "sell by" dates on perishables, nutritional labeling and building parking lots next to stores.

The supermarket chain offers $5 Friday deals each week, with offers announced a few days beforehand. Select items get deeper discounts than other days during the week, so products like organic meats, seasonal produce and deli items sell for $5 or less. Look out for added bonuses, like 2X gas rewards when you buy any of the Friday sale items.

If products on shelves at Albertsons and other spots seem similar to what you'd find at Safeway, it's because several chains are a part of Albertsons Companies. Many Albertsons stores have even been re-bannered as Safeways in recent years, but other connected chains under the same umbrella company include Vons, Randalls, Tom Thumb and Carrs stores.

The chain created a selection of upscale products under the Safeway Signature Select brand name, and customers love them for their quality and price point. Look for other store-brand labels like Primo Taglio (meats and cheeses) and Lucerne (dairy items) while you're shopping to get prime deals.

Frequent shoppers should definitely sign up for the free Safeway Club Card, which tracks all promotions and gas rewards so you don't need to carry coupons. The Just 4 U program provides special offers and gift cards based on your prior purchases, and digital coupons are automatically subtracted from your total at checkout.

Safeway first began selling gasoline at select store locations back in 1999 and customers can still fill up when they shop. The stores have a Fuel Rewards program that allows shoppers to earn 1 point for every $1 spent on groceries and pharmacy items, and 2 points for every $1 spent on gift cards to other major retailers. For every 100 points earned, you'll get 10 cents off per gallon at Safeway, Chevron or Texaco stations.

Every year, Safeway gives away a $30,000 prize to the winner of its World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Massive pumpkins get weighed in Half Moon Bay, CA at the contest each October. In 2016, a 1,910-pound pumpkin took the title — it weighed more than a U-Haul trailer and could have been used to make over 600 pies.

Grocery delivery began in 2000, and it has made Safeway a prime competitor for other chains like Whole Foods and Kroger. Customers in select areas simply choose the items they want online and can get them delivered same-day — the delivery fee is waived your first time. The ordering system is also an easy way to compare grocery prices with other stores.