If you live in Southern California, chances are you’ve shopped at Vons or Albertsons. But are these two grocery chains the same? In this post, we’ll break down their similarities and differences.
Contents
Are Vons and Albertsons the Same?
Vons and Albertsons aren’t the same company, although they operate under the same parent company, Albertson Investor Holdings LLC.
Vons operates under the banners of Albertsons, while Cerberus Capital Management LP recently acquired the Albertsons companies. The acquisition brought together Albertsons and Safeway — two large grocery store chains with a long Southern California history.
Vons started its operations in a 20-foot wide Groceteria when its owner, Charles Von der Ahe, opened the first store in downtown Los Angeles in 1906. By 1928, the stores had grown to 87 outlets.
In 1988, Vons acquired all Safeway stores in Nevada and Southern California. Later, on April 8, 1997, Von sold its stock to Safeway and became its subsidiary. Vons has its headquarters in Fullerton, California, and operates its stores under Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilion banners.
On July 21, 1939, Albertsons started operations when Joe Albertson opened the first store in Boise, Idaho. In 1999, SuperValu purchased Albertsons (which became part of the Cerberus Group), and in 2006 SuperValu sold it to a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management. Today, Albertsons is owned by Cerberus Capital Management and Albertsons Investor Holdings LLC.
What Other Stores Are Subsidiaries of Vons and Albertsons?
Both Vons and Albertsons own several other grocery store chains that operate independently. The following stores are subsidiaries of Vons or Albertson.
- Acme Markets
- Carrs-Safeway
- Haggen
- Jewel-Osco
- Kings
- Pavilions
- Plated
- Randalls
- Lucky stores
- Supersaver Foods
- Safeway Inc.
- Shaw’s and Star Market
- Tom Thumb
- United Supermarkets
What is the Difference between Vons and Albertsons?
Vons is a supermarket chain with stores throughout Southern California and Nevada. Albertsons is an Idaho-based supermarket chain with store locations in 34 states across the US, including the District of Columbia. So, how do they compare?
Which is more expensive?
Prices at both stores depend on your area and what you’re buying. For example, Vons has better prices on specialty diet foods than Albertsons (although this isn’t always true).
Albertsons also tends to have slightly lower prices on staples like milk and eggs than Vons. However, it’s important to shop around at both stores because their prices change often.
What are their store hours?
Vons and Albertsons open early in the morning and close late at night, but their store hours vary. Most Vons stores open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m., while some stores in California open from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Albertsons stores are open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. However, some stores open from 5 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. Vons has more locations that stay open for longer hours than Albertsons. To get your nearest store operating hours, use the store locator feature on their specific websites.
FAQs
Does Kroger own Vons and Albertsons?
No, Kroger owns Ralph stores. Vons and Albertsons are owned and operated by Albertsons Investor Holdings LLC.
Are Vons’s and Albertson’s prices the same?
While they are both owned by the same parent company, the two grocery store chains offer different products and have distinct pricing policies. However, the difference in pricing is not that significant.
Are Albertsons and Ralphs the same?
No, they aren’t. Although Ralphs purchased several Albertson stores in 1999, the two companies have been separate since Cerberus Capital Management bought Albertsons. Ralphs is a Southern California-based supermarket chain that’s affiliated with Kroger.
Is Pavilions owned by Vons?
No, both Pavilion and Von stores operate under the banner of Albertsons. Pavilions outlets are more upscale than Vons stores, plus they feature a more extensive selection of organic food and wine and other specialty foods.
Can you use a Safeway card at Vons?
Yes, you can use a Safeway card at Vons. Other stores where the card is acceptable include Albertsons, Safeway, Pavilions, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Carrs, Jewel’s, Randall’s, and Star Market.
Conclusion
Vons and Albertsons are owned by the same company. They’re both part of the Albertson Investment Holdings family.
Vons operates under the banner of Albertson companies, including Acme Markets, Jewel-Osco, and Shaw’s. You can find Vons in Southern California and Nevada, as well as in Texas.
Von stores tend to have longer operating hours than Albertsons; however, this can vary depending on your location.
