BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Companies today announced an initiative to make its online grocery shopping websites and mobile applications more accessible and usable for shoppers with disabilities.
Albertsons Cos. strives to substantially conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 Level AA as its accessibility standard. It has made significant enhancements to its online shopping websites and mobile applications to improve accessibility.
Today’s announcement is the result of collaboration between Albertsons Cos. and several visually impaired customers of the company’s family of grocery stores, including Safeway, in a process known as Structured Negotiation.
“Ensuring a great shopping experience for all customers is one of our highest priorities, which includes ongoing web and mobile app accessibility enhancements to provide access to customers of all abilities,” said Ramiya Iyer, Group Vice President, Information Technology, Albertsons Cos.
Albertsons Cos. customers praised today’s announcement.
“As a long-time customer, I appreciate the company’s commitment to accessibility,” said Darrell Hilliker, a Safeway shopper in Arizona. “Through the straightforward implementation of the objective Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, blind people like me will be empowered to reap the benefits of online grocery delivery.”
Judy Dixon is a Safeway shopper in Virginia: “I congratulate Albertsons Cos. for recognizing the needs of all of its customers including customers like me who have visual impairments,” she said. “The changes announced today will make it easier for us to shop with convenience and efficiency.”
About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies, Inc. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Cos. operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2018 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company gave over $262 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities, and veterans outreach. The company has a longstanding and ongoing partnership with AFB Consulting, a division of the American Federation for the Blind.
