Earlier this week, a HucksOnline reader criticized store operations at Coeur d'Alene's Albertsons here. Rob Backus, senior vice president of Albertson's Store Operations in Seattle, Wash., provides Huckleberries with this response:

Dear Reader:

Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns about your Coeur d’Alene Albertsons.  We truly appreciate your comments and will utilize this same forum to respond.

At Albertsons, we embrace consistent improvement in all aspects of our business and we make every effort to correct any situation if we fall short of customer expectations.  Our stores adjust their operations based on customer feedback, seasonal activity and a variety of other variables.  We respect the busy schedules of our customers, and know less time waiting in our stores means more time to spend with family and friends. Your letter was shared with the District Manager and Store Director to address the areas that may have increased waiting time. 

Here are some of the steps we are taking to make improvements:

• 1.   Adjust the scheduling of the front end to accommodate the demand during peak hours.
• 2.   Retrain front end employees to call for assistance when the lines start to backup.
• 3. Additional district oversight of store operations in the evening hours to ensure the adjustments are effective.

Next, we greatly appreciate your kind words about our employees, Patty, Holly, Lori and Darcy.  While we are a national grocery chain, we’ve employed thousands of local residents since we opened our first Coeur d’Alene store in the 1950’s, and many have continued on to lifelong career because they enjoy providing the community their favorite local supermarket. Our employees are the primary reason so many customers are loyal to our stores, and we are grateful for this store team’s consistent dedication to providing you a pleasant shopping experience.

Please know that we take your comments seriously and we are committed to enhancing our customers’ experience.  If you would like to continue this conversation or have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Store Director Richard Graham at 208-664-9101.  Thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention and for your continued patronage.

Rob Backus
Senior Vice President of Operations
Seattle Division
Albertsons LLC and Safeway Inc.

---

---