Albertsons Cos. 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 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.

This 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 of information technology at Albertsons Cos.

Albertsons’ customers praised the 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.”

“I congratulate Albertsons Cos. for recognizing the needs of all of its customers, including customers like me who have visual impairments,” said Judy Dixon, a Safeway shopper in Virginia. “The changes announced today will make it easier for us to shop with convenience and efficiency.”