Albertsons Companies Inc

Retail Operations

Albertsons is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both strong local presence and national scale. As of February 22, 2025, we operated 2,270 stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under more than 20 well known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, ACME, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen, Kings Food Marketsand Balducci's Food Lovers Market. Additionally, as of February 22, 2025, we operated 1,728 in-store pharmacies, 1,313 in-store branded coffee shops, 405 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers, 19 manufacturing facilities and various digital platforms. Our stores operate in premier locations and have leading market share within attractive and growing geographies. We hold a #1 or #2 position by market share in 66% of the 122 metropolitan statistical areas ("MSAs") in which we operate. Our portfolio of well-located, full-service stores provides the foundation of our omnichannel platform, and we have continued to enhance our capabilities, including automated self-checkout options, to meet customer demand for convenience and flexibility. Our Drive Up & Go curbside pickup service and our delivery services are each offered in more than 2,200 of our stores. In our delivery service, we engage customers on the platform of their choice, providing customers the ability to place delivery orders from our platform as well as delivery orders placed through our third-party partners. We continue to partner with Instacart, DoorDash and Uber, and in fiscal 2024 we launched a partnership with Grubhub. Our Customers for Life strategy is centered around driving customer growth and engagement through digital connection, enhancing the customer value proposition, modernizing capabilities through technology and driving productivity. We also manufacture and process some of the food for sale in our stores. We seek to tailor our offerings to local demographics and preferences of the markets in which we operate. Our Locally Great, Nationally Strong operating structure empowers decision making at the local level, which we believe better serves our customers and communities, while also providing the technology platforms, systems, analytics and buying power afforded by an organization with national scale.

Segments

We are engaged in the operation of food and drug retail stores that offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel and other items and services in our stores or through digital channels. Our retail operating divisions are geographically based, have similar economic characteristics and similar expected long-term financial performance. Our operating segments and reporting units are made up of our operating divisions, which are reported in one reportable segment. Each reporting unit constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and for which management regularly reviews the operating results and makes key operating decisions on how to allocate resources. Across all operating segments, the Company operates primarily one store format. Each division offers, through its stores and digital channels, the same general mix of products with similar pricing to similar categories of customers, has similar distribution methods, operates in similar regulatory environments and purchases merchandise from similar or the same vendors.

Products

Our stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, vaccines, fuel and other items and services. We are not dependent on any individual supplier; only one third-party supplier represented more than 5% of our sales for fiscal 2024.

Merchandising and Manufacturing

Our Own Brands portfolio provides high-quality products to our customers at an attractive price point, offering nearly 14,000 unique items. The Own Brands portfolio includes but is not limited to the registered trademarks Signature SELECT®, O Organics®, Open Nature®, Signature Café®, Lucerne®, Waterfront BISTRO®, Primo

Taglio®, Signature Care®, Signature Reserve®and Value Corner®. Our Own Brands products resonate well with our customers, as evidenced by Own Brands sales of $16.4 billion in fiscal 2024.

As measured by units for fiscal 2024, 10.5% of our Own Brands products were manufactured in Company-owned facilities, and the remainder was purchased from third parties. We closely monitor make-versus-buy decisions to optimize their quality and profitability. In addition, we believe that our scale provides opportunities to leverage our fixed manufacturing costs in order to drive innovation across our Own Brands portfolio. As of February 22, 2025, we operated 19 food production plants. These plants consisted of seven milk plants, three soft drink bottling plants, three bakery plants, two ice cream plants, two grocery/prepared food plants, one ice plant and one soup plant.

Intellectual Property

Our banners, brand image and Own Brands portfolio are significant to our business strategy. We own numerous registered trademarks and service marks and seek to obtain and preserve intellectual property protection of our marks and to ensure that any third-party uses are properly licensed.

Marketing and Advertising

Our marketing efforts involve collaboration between our national marketing and merchandising team and local divisions and stores. We augment the local division teams with corporate resources and are focused on providing expertise, sharing best practices and leveraging scale in partnership with leading consumer packaged goods vendors. Our corporate teams support divisions by providing strategic guidance in order to drive key areas of our business, including pharmacy, general merchandise and our Own Brands. Our local marketing teams set brand strategy and communicate brand messages through our integrated digital and physical marketing and advertising channels.

We devote significant resources to differentiating our banners in the local markets where we operate and invest in loyalty programs to drive traffic through our omnichannel approach. Our local merchandising teams spend considerable time working with store directors to make sure we are satisfying consumer preferences. We also strive to achieve and maintain favorable recognition of our Own Brands offerings by marketing them to consumers and enhancing value for consumers, relative to the cost of branded products.

We measure price competitiveness through systematic, selective and thoughtful price investment to drive customer traffic and basket size. We also use our loyalty program to target promotional activity and improve our customers' experience. This includes leveraging customer and transaction information with data-driven analytics to provide both personalized deals and digital coupons, as well as fuel rewards and grocery rewards, including automatic cash-off discounts. We have 45.6 million members currently enrolled in our loyalty program. We have achieved significant success with active participants in our loyalty program, which drives higher sales and customer retention. We have deployed and are continuing to refine cloud-based enterprise solutions to quickly process proprietary customer, product and transaction data and efficiently provide our local managers with targeted marketing strategies for customers in their communities. In addition, we use data analytics to optimize shelf assortment and space in our stores by continually and systematically reviewing the performance of each product.

In our digital strategies, we capitalize on our rich and proprietary data under our Albertsons Media Collective ("AMC"). AMC offers new and existing business partners a robust digital marketing platform that reaches our extensive customer network and leverages our strong market share, especially in the 66% of MSAs where we hold a #1 or #2 share position. We believe AMC will be a contributor to our growth and a profit driver in the future.

Raw Materials

Various agricultural commodities constitute the principal raw materials used by us in the manufacture of our food products. Although historically raw materials for our products have not been in short supply and have been readily available, see "Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors" regarding the potential adverse impact on our results of operations due to the lack of, or reduced availability of, raw materials.

Environmental

Our operations are subject to regulation under environmental laws, including those relating to waste management, air emissions and underground storage tanks. In addition, as an owner and operator of commercial real estate, we may be subject to liability under applicable environmental laws for clean-up of contamination at our facilities. Compliance with and clean-up liability under these laws has not had and is not expected to have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, liquidity or operating results.

We work hard to maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship (including procuring and offering sustainably sourced products). During fiscal 2024, we recycled nearly 800 million pounds of cardboard and more than 25 million pounds of plastic bags and film from our operations and completed over 600 energy efficiency projects. We continually look for ways to reduce our packaging and lessen our environmental impact, such as our recent Own Brands release of Bee Lightly Wines in fiscal 2024, distinguished by its unique flat bottle design crafted from 100% recycled material that is 87% lighter than traditional glass bottles resulting in reduced transportation related emissions. This innovative approach to wine packaging marks a first in the U.S. market, underscoring our commitment to recycled packaging solutions.

Human Capital

As one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S., serving 36.2 million customers per week, we recognize that our success and ability to delight our customers lies in the engagement of our associates. We remain committed to attracting, developing and retaining associates by fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging through a variety of associate resource groups, investments in talent development and supporting the personal health and well-being of associates and their families.

As of February 22, 2025, we employed approximately 285,000 associates, of which approximately 62% were part-time and approximately 195,000 associates were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A significant number of our associates have long tenure and during fiscal 2024, more than 57,000 of our associates celebrated at least 15 years of service, and more than 42,000 associates celebrated over 20 years of service.

We are proud to offer our associates a myriad of opportunities to grow and advance in their careers. We have a talent management process that is designed to enable us to identify and assess talent across the organization and provide equal and consistent opportunities for employees to develop their skills. Several levels of associates participate in our annual performance management process that includes goal setting, feedback and development to support their personal growth and development. We engage associates across the organization to provide input through our annual Associate Experience Survey. We hold regular town hall meetings where any employee can ask questions of executives and make their voice heard.

We also offer formal and informal learning and development opportunities to all associates through synchronous, asynchronous and hybrid experiences. These offerings include eLearning and on-demand content, virtual and in-person classes, on-the-job training, virtual reality and mentoring programs. In addition to our internal learning offerings, through partnerships with third parties, we offer development programs and conferences to our top talent based on nominations.

We are continually evaluating and developing our compensation and benefits programs to offer competitive wages and job-appropriate compensation. Our benefits are designed to attract and retain our employees and vary from location, seniority and employment status. In addition to comprehensive, accessible and affordable healthcare coverage, we offer paid time off, flexible work schedules, family leave, associate assistance programs and a 401(k)-retirement savings and investment plan.

The health and safety of our associates remains at the forefront of our business, and we remain committed to the prevention of injury and illness through strong health and safety management, employee empowerment and accountability, and strict compliance with health and safety regulations. We are also focused on fostering a safe, open and accountable work environment and we provide a hotline for all associates to report workplace concerns and violations.

Seasonality

Our business is generally not seasonal in nature, but a larger share of annual revenues may be generated in November and December due to the major holidays.

Competitive Environment

See "Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Industry" for information related to our competitive environment.

Other Information

We maintain a website (www.Albertsonscompanies.com) that includes additional information about the Company. We make available through our website, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and our interactive data files, including amendments to those reports. The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should not be considered as part of this or any other report filed with or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These forms are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we have filed them with, or furnished them electronically to, the SEC. Additionally, all of our filings with the SEC can be accessed on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of April 21, 2025:

Vivek Sankaranhas served as our Chief Executive Officer and Director since September 2021, and our Chief Executive Officer, President and Director since April 2019. Prior to joining the Company, since 2009 Mr. Sankaran served in various leadership and executive positions at PepsiCo, Inc. ("PepsiCo"), a multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation. From January to March 2019, he served as Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Foods North America, a business unit within PepsiCo, where he led PepsiCo's snack and convenient foods business. Prior to that position, Mr. Sankaran served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Frito-Lay North America, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, from April 2016 to December 2018, its Chief Operating Officer from February to April 2016 and Chief Commercial Officer, North America, of PepsiCo from 2014 to February 2016, where he led PepsiCo's cross-divisional performance across its North American customers. Prior to joining PepsiCo in 2009, Mr. Sankaran was a partner at McKinsey and Company, where he served various Fortune 100 companies, bringing a strong focus on strategy and operations. As previously announced, Mr. Sankaran will retire as Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2025.

Sharon McCollam has served as our President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2021. Ms. McCollam previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative and Chief Financial Officer at Best Buy Co. Inc. ("Best Buy"), a multinational consumer electronics retailer, from 2012 to 2016. Prior to Best Buy, Ms. McCollam held several transformational leadership positions at Williams-Sonoma, Inc., a consumer retail company, from 2000 to 2012, including Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2012.

Susan Morris has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer since January 2018. Ms. Morris has served in various executive positions at the Company since 2010 including serving as our Executive Vice President, Retail Operations, West Region from April 2017 to January 2018 and Executive Vice President, Retail Operations, East Region from April 2016 to April 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Morris served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising and Vice President of Customer Satisfaction at SuperValu. As previously announced, Ms. Morris will succeed Mr. Sankaran as Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2025.

Anuj Dhanda has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Transformation Officer since 2023 and as our Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since joining the Company in December 2015. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Dhanda served as Senior Vice President of Digital Commerce of the Giant Eagle supermarket chain from March to December 2015, and as its Chief Information Officer from September 2013. Prior to Giant Eagle, from March 2008 to August 2013, Mr. Dhanda served as Chief Information Officer of PNC Financial Services, a bank holding company and financial services corporation.

Omer Gajial has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising & Digital Officer since April 2024, as our Executive Vice President of Health and Chief Digital Officer since August 2022, as our Executive Vice President of Pharmacy and Health since February 2022 and as our Senior Vice President, Rx Health and Wellness since September 2020. Prior to joining the Company, from January 2016 until August 2020, Mr. Gajial was the General Manager for Amazon Marketplace business, an e-commerce platform owned and operated by Amazon, across Hardlines, Softlines, and Consumables categories for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. At Amazon Mr. Gajial led sales, business development, product, program, and fulfillment teams to launch strategic sellers into North America. Prior to Amazon, from July 2000 until December 2015, Mr. Gajial held several positions of increasing responsibility at PepsiCo in Dubai and New York, before being named VP Global Strategy, Category Management & Insights for PepsiCo's Walmart Customer team.

Thomas Moriarty has served as our Executive Vice President, M&A and Corporate Affairs since March 2025 and leads the functions of M&A, Business Development, Government Relations, Corporate Communications, Sustainability and Legal. Mr. Moriarty served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Policy Officer since June 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Moriarty served as EVP, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer and General Counsel at CVS Health where he spent more than ten years in roles of increasing responsibility. Before joining CVS Health, Mr. Moriarty spent twelve years at Medco Health Solutions, serving in various leadership roles in corporate strategy, legal affairs, global supply chain management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Robert Backus has served as our Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, East Region since April 2024. Mr. Backus previously served as Shaw's Division President from 2020 and as Senior Vice President of Operations from 2016. Mr. Backus also served in various roles and positions of increasing responsibility at Safeway prior to its merger with the Company dating back to October 1990.

Michelle Larson has served as our Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, West Region since April 2024. Ms. Larson previously served as our Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, East Region since March 2023 and as our Southwest and Shaw’s Division President since 2018. Ms. Larson joined the Company in 2016 as Senior Vice President of Merchandising, Southwest.

Michael Withers has served as our Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, California since February 2025. Mr. Withers previously served as President of our Jewel-Osco division from September 2019 and in various executive positions in the Company including as our Executive Vice President of East Operations from 2017 to 2019. Mr. Withers has served in various roles and positions of increasing responsibility since 2006.

Evan Rainwaterhas served as our Executive Vice President, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Strategic Sourcing since March 2020 and our Senior Vice President, Supply Manufacturing since May 2019. Mr. Rainwater joined the Company in May 2005 as Vice President, Manufacturing.

Jennifer Saenz has served as our Executive Vice President, Pharmacy & eCommerce since April 2024 and our Chief Merchandising Officer since July 2021. Prior to joining the Company, since 2006, Ms. Saenz served in several executive positions at PepsiCo. From October 2019 until July 2021, Ms. Saenz served as Global Chief Marketing Officer for PepsiCo, and President, Global Foods, responsible for overseeing the marketing function across foods and beverages and growing the PepsiCo Foods portfolio across all global markets. From January 2016 to October 2019 Ms. Saenz served as Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Foods North America where she managed the business unit's snacking portfolio.

Michael Theilmannhas served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since August 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Theilmann served as Global Practice Managing Partner, Human Resources Officers Practice, from February 2018 to August 2019, and as Partner, Consumer Markets Practice, from June 2017 to January 2018, of Heidrick & Struggles International Incorporated, a worldwide executive search firm.