Safeway’s growth internationally started in 1929 and continued into the early 1990’s. The international nucleus of stores received Safeway systems and technology and then expanded organically. The company expanded into Canada in 1929, the United Kingdom in 1962, Australia in 1963, the Middle East during the 70’s, and Mexico in 1981. Over the years, Safeway divested all international retail ownership to various companies in each applicable country, ending the company's international operations. Since 2018 Albertson’s has reentered the international markets through wholesale distribution of company owned private label branded products. Albertsons wholly owned subsidiary J.B. Gottstein leads this growth. Albertson’s private label products, identified as “Own Brands” are being distributed to various markets including South America, South Korea, Philippines, China, Micronesian Islands, Malaysian Islands, French Polynesian Islands, Cook Islands, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
Our History
Since 1915, J.B. Gottstein Wholesale has been supplying groceries and other staple items all over Alaska. Today, JBG is the oldest wholesale distribution company in Alaska. A generation later in 1950, J.B.'s son Barney assumed management of the company and began distributing to a local grocery store owned by Larry Carr. In 1947 Larry moved to Anchorage and in 1950 he opened a grocery store which proved to be an immediate success. Barney Gottstein and Larry Carr's business dealings expanded as Alaska took its place among the 50 states and its economy and population boomed. In 1974 the two companies merged, pooling their retail grocery resources, their assets in drug stores and shopping centers, and their
unparalleled knowledge of the Alaskan market. Within a few years 60% of the entire population of Alaska lived within three miles of a Carrs store. The move made the company the state's largest retail chain, now with 28 locations.
In 1959, Safeway opened its first store in the new state of Alaska—the first major food retailer to enter that market. Safeway, an American supermarket chain founded by Marion Barton Skaggs in April 1915 in American Falls, Idaho. In 1999 Safeway bought Carrs-J.B. Gottstein. On February 19, 2014, Safeway began to explore selling itself. On March 6, 2014, longtime rival Albertsons, announced it would purchase Safeway. On January 30, 2015, the merger between Safeway and Albertsons was finalized.