BAY AREA, CA - California’s Bay Area is continuing to be a testing ground for retailers expanding their reach. Safeway has announced that it will be opening three new stores tomorrow in the increasingly competitive market.

"We are excited to open three new stores to meet the needs of customers and create new jobs in the Bay Area," said Tom Schwilke, President of Safeway Northern California, in a statement. "These new stores will give customers new local, fresh and organic options."

The three new stores will be opening in the following locations:

• Fairmont Shopping Center at 709 Hickey Blvd. in Pacifica
• Ridge Shopping Center at 5100 Broadway in Oakland
• The Orchards at 2800 Ygnacio Valley Blvd. in Walnut Creek

While details on the size of the other two stores have not been released, the Walnut Creek location will be 55,000-square-feet.

With competition ramping up from healthy and locally-focused chains like Nugget Markets and Whole Foods, Safeway has decided it will highlight its locally-grown products with designated tags throughout the store, according to the East Bay Times. The source reports that Safeway is partnering with Cal-Organic Farms, and will also carry popular local brands like Clover Stornetta Dairy Farms, Three Twins Ice Cream, and Rocky Chicken.

The stores will also offer a grocery delivery program to rival e-commerce services like those form Walmart, Amazon, and Instacart.

"We continuously evaluate and invest in areas where there's an opportunity to improve or expand our operations," Safeway’s Senior Communications and Government Relations Manager, Wendy Gutshall, told the San Francisco Business Times.

Will Safeway be able to take a healthy chunk out of the Bay Area’s retail money machine? AndNowUKnow will keep our eyes on the scene for updates.

Safeway