The Safeway grocery store chain is not owned by the Mormon Church. However, the company has been accused of being controlled by the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) due to its close ties to the LDS-owned Deseret News.
Safeway was founded in 1915 by Marion B. Skaggs, who was not a member of the LDS Church. However, Skaggs’ father-in-law was Apostle George Albert Smith, one of the most powerful leaders in the Church. This connection likely helped Skaggs gain favor with the Mormon community and build a successful business.
Today, Safeway is one of the largest grocery store chains in the United States, with over 2,000 locations. The company has come under fire from some customers who feel that it is too closely aligned with the LDS Church. For example, Safeway locations in Utah often sell Deseret News newspapers, which is owned by the LDS Church.
Some customers have also complained that Safeway’s employees are often Mormon missionaries, and that they proselytize to customers while they shop. While Safeway does not have an explicit policy prohibiting employees from proselytizing, the company has said that it does not tolerate “harassment or discrimination of any kind.”
In conclusion, Safeway is not owned by the Mormon Church, but it does have close ties to the LDS Church. Some customers have complained about feeling harassed or discriminated against by Mormon missionaries who work for Safeway, but the company has stated that it does not tolerate this behavior.
