History

Albertsons was founded by Joe Albertson in 1939 in Boise, Idaho, USA. An ad in the Idaho Statesman touted Joe Albertson's first store as "Idaho's largest and finest food store." The store was filled with perks that, at the time, were brand new: free parking, a money-back guarantee, even an ice cream shop. The store was located at 17th and State Streets in downtown Boise.

In 1969, it partnered with Skaggs Companies, Inc. to create the first combination grocery/drug store. Later, Albertsons acquired Seessel's, Smitty's, Super One Foods, Buttrey Food and Drug, and Bruno's.

In 1998, Albertsons acquired American Stores Company, which included the chains Acme, Lucky, Jewel, Jewel-Osco, Osco Drug and Sav-on Drugs. The Lucky stores were converted to Albertsons in November 1999, and the Lucky brand name was retired until April 2006, when Albertsons returned the Lucky brand name to their website due to a dispute with Grocery Outlet.

In 2001, Albertsons sold its free-standing Osco stores in the northeastern states to Jean Coutu Group, a Canadian drug store company. Those stores were rebranded as Brooks Pharmacy after the sale was completed in January 2002. In March 2005, Albertsons re-introduced the Osco brand name to the New England region by way of its Shaw's and Star Market pharmacies.

Albertsons exited the San Antonio, Texas, market in April 2002 by closing its 20 remaining area stores after already shuttering three other stores in December 2001. Albertsons was the area's second top grocer to market innovator H-E-B. At the time of the withdrawal, the 44-store H-E-B chain held a commanding 61 market share, while Albertsons held a 15 market share. Albertsons was the area's third top grocer before Kroger exited the market in mid-1993 when it closed its 15 area stores. Then, H-E-B's 37 area stores held a 43.2 market share, Kroger's 15 area stores a 13.7 share, and Albertsons 10 stores a 13.1 share.

Also in 2002, Albertsons sold its Seessel's supermarket chain in Memphis and parts of Mississippi to Schnucks, and pulled out of Houston, closing its 43 area stores after entering that market in 1990.

In 2004, Albertsons acquired Shaw's Supermarkets and Star Market Company from J Sainsbury plc for $2.5 billion.