Grocery Chain Discrimination Policy Keeps Men In Women’s Bathrooms, Watchdog Warns

Albertsons, one of America’s largest grocery store chains, does not allow store managers to keep transgender-identifying men out of women’s bathrooms, a conservative watchdog warned Tuesday. 

The policy was revealed in a “Woke Alert” campaign from Consumers’ Research targeting Albertsons over its promotion of gender ideology and DEI. Albertsons owns popular chains like Safeway and Vons and operates over 2,000 stores across the country.

In a document obtained by Consumers’ Research and shared with The Daily Wire, Albertsons writes that “requiring a transgender individual (customer or employee) to use the restroom of her gender at birth” would “be a form of transgender discrimination prohibited by our Company policy.”

Albertsons did not respond to requests for comment on when the policy was implemented or whether it was still in place.

The grocery chain was the top sponsor of a pride festival in Boise, Idaho, in 2024, while Safeway was “proud” to sponsor of San Francisco Pride festival. Albertsons Companies Foundation also recently made a number of large donations to transgender activists groups, including $25,000 to the National Center for Transgender Equality for Education. That organization, which is now known as Advocates for Trans Equality, opposes state laws that protect children from transgender medical procedures. 

The Woke Alert also hit Albertsons for its climate activism and DEI policies. 

“Consumers do not need their grocery stores peddling woke policies with produce, but that is exactly what Albertsons is doing,” Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild told The Daily Wire. “Instead of focusing on providing high quality products and services to its customers at competitive prices, Albertsons has promoted discriminatory practices, gender ideology to kids, and committed to radical net-zero climate goals.”

In a 2024 report, Albertsons included “climate action” and “diversity and inclusion” as two “key ingredients” that the company was focusing on changing. This includes a push to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the creation of a variety of identity-focused support groups, and push to support “diverse suppliers.” 

“We are steadfast in our mission to create growth opportunities for small businesses and diverse suppliers, helping to amplify their product visibility on our shelves so we can offer a wide range of products that support our mission to create customers for life among all communities,” the report said. 

Albertsons defines “diverse supplier” as a company that is “at least 51 percent owned, controlled and operated by women, Black, indigenous and people of color, LGBTQ+, veterans or people with disabilities.”

Associate resource groups hosted by Albertsons include the Pride Alliance, Hispanic Leadership Network, Women’s Inspiration and Inclusion Network, and the Asian Network. 

Safeway, one of Albertsons’ subsidiaries, also has posted that it is committed to “diversity and inclusion and thoughtful people practices is a core element of the company’s philosophy, ensuring our employees reflect the diverse communities we serve,” according to a screenshot from Consumers’ Research. 

Safeway DEI/Consumers’ Research.

That page has now been deleted. 

Hild urged Albertsons to abandon its DEI policies, pointing to the Trump administration’s push to eliminate DEI from the federal government and crackdown on funding for entities that implement or offer identity-based quotas and opportunities. 

“President Trump has made it crystal clear that these discriminatory policies need to end and companies should walk away from these political agendas and focus on their core business,” Hild said. “Consumers’ Research will continue to expose companies that are putting a woke agenda over consumers.”