With astronomical growth in all kinds of industries since the beginning of the 21st century, we have seen competition rising to a peak it had never reached before. Supermarket chains are one such example, where some competitors have outshone the others and were able to expand on massive scales. Let us know ‘Are Vons And Albertsons The Same?’.
Are Vons And Albertsons The Same?
Vons and Albertsons are not the same. While Albertsons Companies, Inc. is an American ‘Grocery Company’ headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Vons is one of the many chains owned by and operating under Albertsons. Vons is headquartered in Fullerton, California.
Albertsons
Founded on the 21st of July, 1939 by Joe Albertson in Boise, ‘Albertsons’ offered perks that no other grocery store did at that time –including a free parking space! The store turned out to be a success and the company grew in subsequent years as new stores opened in towns like Nampa, Caldwell, and Seattle in the following years. Albertsons operated over 200 stores by the end of the 1960s, expanding its roots into Southern California and Colorado.
Albertsons continued to grow steadily, partnering with Skaggs Drug Centre in 1969, opening its first distribution centre in Brea, California in 1973 and purchasing the four-store Monte Mart chain in California in 1974. By end of the 1980s, Albertsons had entered the states of Nebraska and South Dakota and built its first mechanized distribution centre in Portland, Oregon. By end of the 1990s, Albertsons had entered five new states.
Becoming Vons’ Parent
The early 2000s took new turns. On the 23rd of January 2006, Albertson’s Inc. was sold to SuperValu, which bought most of the company. The other group was Cerberus-led investors, and Albertsons Inc. became Albertsons, LLC.
SuperValu’s New Albertsons Inc. performed poorly. Thus by 2013, SuperValu sold it to Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus became the parent company of Albertsons and in 2015, Albertsons got hold of Safeway Inc. This gave Albertsons complete acquisition of Safeway store banners such as;
- Randalls
- Tom thumb
- Carrs Safeway
- Pavillions
- Vons
Vons
Founded in 1906 by Charles Von der Ahe, Vons is a Southern California and Southern Nevada supermarket chain, which operates under the banner of Albertsons since 2015.
Starting as a 20-foot wide ‘Vons Grocetaria’ in Los Angeles, California, Vons grew steadily after its birth. It had 27 stores by 1958 and acquired one of its biggest competitors ‘Shopping Bag’ by 1960. However, in 1969 the chain was sold to Household Finance Corporation. Vons then merged with Detroit, because this ownership lasted only until 1986 and in 1987, it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The next ownership of Vons went to Safeway Inc. when Vons became a subsidiary of Safeway in 1997. This ownership was to end in 2015, when Cerberus Capital Management, which also owns Albertsons, purchased Vons’ parent, Safeway.
What Grocery Stores Does Albertsons Own?
Albertsons have the ownership of different chain grocery stores, some of which (not mentioned before) include;
- Haggen
- Acme Markets
- Amigos
- Jewel-Osco
- Shaw’s
- Lucky
- Market Street
- Pak n’ Save
- Andronico’s
Which is better, Albertsons or Walmart?
According to a survey comparing Albertsons and Walmart, the following results were obtained:
| Albertsons’ rating | Walmart’s rating | |
| 4/5 | Product Quality | 3.6/5 |
| 3.7/5 | Pricing | 3.6/5 |
| 3.9/5 | Customer Service | 3.5/5 |
For more details, visit https://www.comparably.com/competitors/363484-vs-walmart
What Is the Just For U Program And How Does It Work?
Stores like Acme, Albertsons, Carrs, Pavilions, Jewel-Osco, Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s and a few others working under the banners of Albertsons, offer a program to customers. According to it, every 100 reward points earned by a customer are converted into 1 reward monthly and the rest expire. These rewards can be used while grocery shopping or even for gas fill-ups. Just For U points can be earned in different ways;
- 1 point per dollar during everyday grocery shopping and pharmacy purchases.
- 2 points per dollar for third-party gift cards.
- Bonus points for digital coupons when buying select gift card brands.
Conclusion
In conclusion, no, Vons and Albertsons are not the same. They have separate histories, were owned initially by unrelated people, and had different, individual growths. Currently, Albertsons Companies Inc. is the second-largest Supermarket operator after Kroger, and Vons works under the banners of Albertsons, like many other chains.
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Can You Use Vons Card At Albertsons?
Yes. If you have rewards in your Vons card, you may redeem some or all of them in a grocery store owned by the Albertsons, the mobile app or even their website.
2- Is Vons The Same As Safeway?
No, Vons remained a subsidiary of Safeway from 1997 to 2015, and at present, is owned by Cerberus Capital Management.
3- Does Albertsons Allow Coupon Stacking?
Yes. Albertson’s coupon policy allows customers to stack manufacturer and store coupons, using one of each per item.
