DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP ---------------------------------------------------------------- Suite 3900 Telephone: (503) 222-1341 111 S.W. Fifth Avenue Facsimile: (503) 224-2172 Portland, Oregon 97204-3698 EXHIBIT 23A INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3, of our report dated March 11, 1996 (which expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to a change in the method of accounting for income taxes in the fiscal year ended January 29, 1994), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Fred Meyer, Inc. for the year ended February 3, 1996 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Portland, Oregon September 4, 1996 - -------------- DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU INTERNATIONAL - --------------