"...while Safeway pleads that the poor economy and changes in the supermarket business are the culprits for the profit crunch, Burd is starting to look like the guy who's been throug a few ugly divorces: the point comes when you have to wonder whether maybe he's the problem...."

"One possible trouble spot is Burd's scorched-earth approach to labor relations, which often boils down to his threatening store closures if he doesn't win. On occasion, this negotiating ploy has worked, although its obvious limitation is that Safeway might eventually run out of stores to close."