Safeway needed to go away poorly run, in Canada they have been in decline for > 20 years, the brand has no long term value. Locations on other hand probably is what Sobeys is really buying. (See Target buying Zellers sites not the chain )

My guess weakest locations will be shuttered, rest turned into Sobeys.


Air miles, not even a factor, gone as soon as the name changes

The sale is for "net assets " , not the actual company. It also probably side steps dealing with existing Union agreements, and Safeway has a terrible relationship with their union