in 1939, joe albertson, a former safeway district manager, took $5,000 he saved and $7,500 he borrowed from his wife’s aunt bertie to open his first albertsons store in boise, idaho. joe knew the keys of running a really great store meant working hard for the customers: give them the products they want, at a fair price, with lots of tender, loving care. with the merger of albertsons llc and safeway, inc. in 2015, albertsons companies is now one of the largest food and drug retailers in the united states. the company operates more than 2,300 stores across 35 states and the district of columbia under 19 well-known banners including albertsons, safeway, vons, jewel-osco, shaw's, acme, tom thumb, randalls, united supermarkets, pavilions, star market, haggen and carrs. albertsons companies is dedicated to helping people across the country live better lives. in 2015 alone, with the help of our generous customers, albertsons companies and the albertsons companies foundation gave more than $27