Exhibit 99.1



For Immediate Release                      Contact: Lauri Sanders
February 25, 2003                                   708/531-6895 (office)
                                                    773/406-3030 (cell)
                                                    LAURI.SANDERS@ALBERTSONS.COM




                    JUDGE DISMISSES MILK CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
                    Finds Jewel's Pricing Actions Competitive



     (CHICAGO, IL) Jewel-Osco, an Albertsons Co.(NYSE:ABS),  today announced the
dismissal  of  the  consumer  class  action  lawsuit  alleging  that  Jewel  and
Dominick's had conspired to fix the price of milk sold in their stores.  Circuit
Court Judge John  Morrissey in his ruling stated that the  plaintiffs had failed
to prove their  allegation  of a price fixing  agreement,  finding  instead that
Jewel and Dominick's were "competitors, not conspirators."

     Pete Van Helden, President of Jewel-Osco commenting on the Court's decision
said,  "this ruling  reaffirms  our high ethical  standards  and sound  business
practices.  In the wake of this  lawsuit,  we pledge to  continue to provide our
customers with the quality, service and commitment that have become our hallmark
for the past 100 years."

     After a  thorough  examination  of the  Plaintiffs'  case  Judge  Morrissey
dismissed  the price  fixing  lawsuit.  The  Judge  found,  "no  facts  directly
demonstrating conspiracy or liability."

     Jewel-Osco is the only Midwest retailer operating both combination food and
drug stores and freestanding drug stores.  Of the retailer's 286 locations,  204
are  combination  Jewel-Osco  stores and 82 are  freestanding  Osco Drug stores.
Jewel Express Fuel Centers are located at 18 Jewel-Osco locations. Jewel-Osco is
the Midwest  Division of  Albertson's  Inc.,  which is  headquartered  in Boise,
Idaho.  Albertson's is one of the world's largest food-drug chains and currently
operates approximately 2,300 stores in 31 states.

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