Safeway customers in SF are livid over new grocery bag switch
SFGATE • • business
Key Points:
- Safeway stores in San Francisco have switched to paper bags without handles due to a global supplier shortage, confirmed by employees at multiple locations and a Safeway spokesperson.
- Customers, like Mark Thomas, have expressed frustration with the new bags, citing difficulty in carrying groceries and perceiving the change as a cost-cutting measure by Safeway.
- Safeway offered a $5 credit to a complaining customer but did not provide details on how long the handleless bags will be used or which locations are affected.
- The switch to handleless paper bags follows California's ban on plastic grocery bags starting January 1, aimed at reducing plastic waste, though it has contributed to challenges in bag availability.
- Other West Coast grocery chains, such as Fred Meyer in Seattle, have also reportedly adopted paper bags without handles amid ongoing supply issues.
