Brandwave

How popular isSafeway?

In September 2026, people searched for Safeway by name about 5 million times in the United States, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 8.6% of all United States grocery chain searches, placing Safeway fourth out of 12 chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about grocery chains, Safeway did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Safeway is the fourth most searched of 12 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. Trader Joe'sShare of searches 28.5%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. AldiShare of searches 15.7%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. KrogerShare of searches 12.8%Mentioned in 1 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  4. SafewayShare of searches 8.6%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. PublixShare of searches 7%Mentioned in 1 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th

+7 more

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Top grocery chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Safeway did not appear in any of the three answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Aldi1st
  2. Trader Joe's2nd
  3. H-E-B3rd
  4. Publix4th
  5. Whole Foods Market5th
  6. WinCo Foods5th
  7. Wegmans7th
  8. Kroger8th
  9. Safeway–
  10. Meijer–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Aldi3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Trader Joe's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Whole Foods Market2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • H-E-B2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • WinCo Foods2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Kroger1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Publix1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Wegmans1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Safeway0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Meijer0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers

+2 more

See every answer about grocery chains

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Which grocery chains compete with Safeway?

Safeway against grocery chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Trader Joe's, Aldi, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Meijer, Food Lion, Wegmans, Whole Foods Market, H-E-B, WinCo Foods, Albertsons. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTrader Joe'sAldiKrogerSafewayPublixMeijerFood LionWegmansWhole Foods MarketH-E-BWinCo FoodsAlbertsons
Oct 202526.9%18%12.1%8.1%8.1%5.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%3%2.7%2.4%
Nov 202524.9%16.7%13.7%7.5%7.5%6.1%5%4.1%5%3.4%3.3%2.7%
Dec 202523.7%15.8%13%8.7%8.7%7.1%4.8%3.9%4.8%3.2%3.1%3.2%
Jan 202623%18.8%12.6%8.5%8.5%5.7%4.6%4.6%4.6%3.8%2.8%2.5%
Feb 202625.5%17.2%14%7.7%7.7%5.1%4.2%4.2%5.1%3.4%3%2.8%
Mar 202627.1%18.1%12.2%8.2%8.2%5.5%4.5%3.7%4.5%3%2.7%2.4%
Apr 202623.8%19.4%13.1%8.7%7.1%5.9%4.8%3.9%4.8%3.2%2.8%2.6%
May 202626.8%18%12.1%8.1%6.6%6.6%4.4%4.4%4.4%3%2.6%3%
Jun 202627.2%18.2%12.3%8.2%6.7%6.7%4.5%4.5%3.7%3%2.6%2.5%
Jul 202622.7%18.6%12.5%10.2%6.8%6.8%5.6%4.6%3.7%3.1%2.8%2.5%
Aug 202623.3%19%12.8%8.6%7%7%4.7%4.7%3.8%3.1%3.2%2.6%
Sep 202628.5%15.7%12.8%8.6%7%5.7%4.7%4.7%3.8%3.1%2.7%2.6%

  1. 1.Trader Joe's

    28.5%

    Held 1st. 16.6M estimated branded searches, +22.1% vs prior month. Share +5.1 points.

  2. 2.Aldi

    15.7%

    Held 2nd. 9.1M estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -3.4 points.

  3. 3.Kroger

    12.8%

    Held 3rd. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Safeway

    8.6%

    Held 4th. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.Publix

    7%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 4.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Meijer

    5.7%

    Moved from 5th to 6th. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  7. 7.Food Lion

    4.7%

    Held 7th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Wegmans

    4.7%

    Held 8th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Whole Foods Market

    3.8%

    Held 9th. 2.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.H-E-B

    3.1%

    Moved from 11th to 10th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.WinCo Foods

    2.7%

    Moved from 10th to 11th. 1.6M estimated branded searches, -15% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  12. 12.Albertsons

    2.6%

    Held 12th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Safeway and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Safeway

11 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Safeway changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Safeway in the United States held steady at 5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Safeway’s share of searches among grocery chains in the United States peaked at 10.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.5% in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Safeway rose from 5th to 4th among grocery chains in the United States.

How did search popularity change for United States grocery chains in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Trader Joe's gained share of searches among grocery chains in the United States, from 23.3% to 28.5%.

  2. In September 2026, Aldi lost share of searches among grocery chains in the United States, from 19% to 15.7%.

  3. In September 2026, Meijer lost share of searches among grocery chains in the United States, from 7% to 5.7%.

  4. In September 2026, H-E-B rose from 11th to 10th among grocery chains in the United States.

  5. In September 2026, Publix rose from 6th to 5th among grocery chains in the United States.

  6. In September 2026, WinCo Foods fell from 10th to 11th among grocery chains in the United States.

How are Safeway’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Safeway’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • safeway

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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