6 Big Differences Between Fry’s and Safeway Every Arizonan Should Know
If there’s a Fry’s and a Safeway a few miles from your house, you might shop at whichever one’s on your way.
The same stack of points isn’t worth the same at both registers, though.
These are the big differences between Fry’s and Safeway every Arizonan should know.
1. Parent Companies
Kroger is the parent company of Fry’s, while Albertsons operates Safeway in Arizona.
Fry’s has 131 grocery stores across 34 cities in Arizona.
Safeway lists 109 locations in the state.
That’s a lot of registers.
The two companies once planned to merge.
Arizona’s attorney general opened an antitrust investigation in February 2023 and held town halls across the state.
In February 2024, the attorney general joined the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit to stop the deal.
Kroger’s latest annual report now calls it a terminated transaction.
Fry’s belongs to Kroger and Safeway to Albertsons, so each runs its own points program.
2. Fuel Rewards at the Pump
Fry’s turns every 100 points into 10 cents off a gallon of gas.
You can take up to $1 a gallon off on up to 35 gallons in one transaction, though the limits can vary by location.
Safeway uses the same rate, but your fill-up tops out at 25 gallons for one vehicle.
At stations Albertsons Companies owns, the discount can reach $1 a gallon.
Partner stations are typically limited to 20 cents.
Fry’s and Safeway Pump Math
Safeway points aren’t instant at the pump. They become available for use at fuel stations approximately one hour after you earn them.
At Fry’s, 1,000 points equal $1 off a gallon, so a 35-gallon fill-up can drop by as much as $35.
At a Safeway-owned station, 1,000 points also equal $1 off a gallon, but the 25-gallon limit holds the savings to $25.
At a Safeway partner station, the typical 20-cent ceiling is reached at 200 points.
3. Spending Points on Groceries
As of June 2026, Fry’s Fuel Points are now just Points.
You can spend them on groceries.
Every 100 points takes $1 off groceries, up to 1,000 points ($10) a day.
Your redeemed points apply automatically at your next checkout, whether you shop in the store, online, or through pickup or delivery.
Safeway’s program FAQ lists tiered basket discounts instead, such as 300 points for $4 off or 1,000 points for $15 off.
Safeway won’t apply a partial grocery reward, so your balance has to cover the full tier.
On those examples, 1,000 points are worth $10 at Fry’s and $15 at Safeway.
Psst! How much do you know about Fry’s and Safeway? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Fry’s vs. Safeway IQ
Answer nine questions on grocery rewards and shopping at two Arizona chains. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Safeway’s online-shopping FAQ says its Page, Arizona store offers seasonal grocery delivery to houseboats on which lake?
4. Prescription Points
Safeway's pharmacy earns you 1 point for every $1 on qualifying purchases.
Its program terms count out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, so a $10 co-pay earns 10 points.
Fry's pharmacy pays 25 points for a non-federally funded prescription.
On a federally funded prescription at Fry's, you earn 1 point for every dollar of out-of-pocket cost.
A 90-day script at Fry's earns 75 points.
5. Delivery Memberships
Fry's ties free delivery to Boost, a paid membership.
It covers orders of $35 or more and earns 2x points on groceries and general merchandise.
The membership starts with a 30-day free trial.
Fry's asks for payment information up front.
Safeway runs forU+ instead, a paid subscription that keeps your points from expiring for as long as you stay subscribed.
Safeway's forU+ page lists free delivery on orders of $30 or more.
Safeway's change notice says forU+ replaces its FreshPass program.
Without that subscription, your Safeway points expire within two calendar months, counting the month you earn them.
Fry's points, by comparison, expire on the last day of the month after you earn them.
6. Store Brands
Fry's store brands belong to Kroger, whose Our Brands page lists Kroger Brand, Simple Truth, Private Selection, Smart Way and Murray's Cheese.
Fry's Private Selection page says you can buy that line exclusively at the Kroger Co. Family of Stores.
Safeway's Our Brands page names Signature Select, O Organics, Lucerne and Open Nature.
Albertsons announced in 2023 that it would rebrand its Signature Farms, Signature Cafe and Signature Care lines under Signature Select.
Delivery Fees
Fry's charges delivery fees that vary with the day and time slot you choose.
Express Delivery adds a $4.95 surcharge.
Instacart fulfills Express Delivery orders.
Safeway's forU+ page says orders under $30 carry a minimum order fee.
Its online-shopping FAQ adds that a service fee may apply to delivery and pickup orders under $30.
Fry's asks customers not to tip on Kroger Delivery orders.
Third-party partners such as Instacart can accept tips.
Safeway's Page store also offers seasonal delivery to houseboats on Lake Powell.
Where the Programs Match
Fry's and Safeway both let you redeem points at partner gas stations as well as the chain's pumps.
A 2023 news report said Fry's points stopped working at Valley Circle K stations after August 2023, while Shell and Kroger fuel centers stayed in the program.
The Circle K partnership had started in 2013.
Fry's earns you 1 point for every $1 on most groceries.
Safeway does the same on groceries.
Gift cards pay 2 points for every $1 at both chains.
Fry's excludes several card types, and Safeway leaves out bank-issued and fuel gift cards.
At the pump, both programs accept your phone number.
Safeway requires the registered number before you start pumping.
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