Added: 05/11/2006 |
ABS - Giving You the Merchandise You want, at a Price You can affordAlbertsons (NYSE: ABS) is one of the world's largest supermarket retailers generating over $35 billion in annual sales with more than 2,500 stores in over 37 states, operating under the ACME, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Osco Drug, Max Foods, Sav-on drugs, Shaw's, Star Market, and SuperSaver Foods brand names. In 1939, the founder of ABS, Joe Albertson, opened a small grocery store in Boise, Idaho. From the beginning, his philosophy was to "give the customer the merchandise they want, at a price they can afford, complete with lots of tender, loving care". Joe changed the rules in the grocery business by introducing services like a scratch bakery, magazine racks, homemade ice cream, popcorn, nuts and an automatic doughnut machine.
It was the beginning of what is now known as Albertsons food and drug chain, one of the largest retail chains in the United States. Albertsons journey to become one of the largest grocery operations in the United States began in 1969 when Joe forged a partnership with Skaggs Companies, Inc., creating the first food-drug combination stores. Though the partnership was later amicably dissolved, Albertsons continued its focus on growth. In 1998, Albertsons acquired several other stores across the US. By obtaining Seessel's, Smitty's, Super One Foods and Buttrey Food and Drug, and acquiring the assets of 15 Bruno's stores, Albertsons was well on its way to fulfilling Joe's dream.
With the addition of Jewel-Osco, Acme Markets and Savon - Osco stores, Albertsons is now the second largest food-drug retailer in the nation and operates under all of these banners. Today, Albertsons continues to follow Joe's principles by adapting to the changing needs of customers and their communities. The ABS is a unified team of energized associates obsessed with creating the world's number one food and drug retailer in the areas of market value, scale, profitability, customer service and associate satisfaction. Albertsons is increasingly progressive in the area of technology, recently adding a "check out while you go" system, where shoppers can scan items as they shop, and quickly pay before leaving. For today's customer, the ABS offers a design that incorporates several "stores within a store". The design is based on the needs of today's busy shopping, with customers able to find the finest fresh foods like homemade breads, abundant produce, a well-stocked international deli and delicious cut-to-order meats. A wide variety of national brands and Albertsons Brand grocery items, dairy products, frozen foods and household necessities are in every store. Baby care products and pet care items each have their own
special areas to make the shopping more efficient.
ABS stores also offer such varied services as meals-to-go, full service in-store banks, video rentals, film developing, fresh flowers and wine
stewards. The ABS Better Care Center offers the over-the-counter and prescription medications and service from friendly, knowledgeable
pharmacists and certified technicians.
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