Corporate Profile for American Stores Company, dated July 18, 1997.

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Published Date:   July 18, 1997

Company Name:     American Stores Company

Address:          1701 Marina Blvd., Building 1 (P.O. Box 5008)
                  San Leandro, CA 94577-4201

Main Telephone
 Number:          510/678-4200

Chief Executive
 Officer:         Victor L. Lund

Chief Financial
 Officer:         Teresa Beck

Investor Relations
 Contact:         Dan Zvonek
 Business number: 801/961-4525

Public Relations
 Contact:         Judith A. Decker (Judie)
 Business number: 510/678-5444

Trading Symbol/
 Exchange:        Ticker symbol common stock: "ASC"
                  Stock table abbreviation: "AmStor"

Industry:         Retail grocery and drug

Company description: American Stores Company is one of the nation's leading food and drug retailers operating stand-alone food and drug stores and combination food/drug store units. The Company's operations are generally located in major metropolitan markets where they hold leading market positions (generally first or second in overall market share). The Company's principal food operations are Acme Markets, Jewel Food Stores, Lucky Stores Northern California Division and Southern California Division and Jewel Osco Southwest (the food store operations). The Company's drug stores operate under the Osco Drug and Sav-on names (the drug store operations). At year-end 1996, the Company operated 1,695 stores in 27 states and employed approximately 127,000 associates.

CONTACT: American Stores Company