SAFEWAY FLAG FLIES COMBO MEAL INTRODUCTION

ROSEANNE HARPER

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Safeway Food & Drug is calling attention to deli "combo meals" with huge banners hanging above the entrances of its stores here.

The eye-catching banners say, "Try Our Combo Meals." The letters are printed in bright yellow on a fire-engine red background. Inside the stores, a poster-size sign in the deli explains what the "combo" meals are.

The meals, designed to feed four people, have two "package" prices, depending on which entrees the customer chooses. For example, a meatloaf, a large pot pie or a rotisserie chicken combo meal is $9.99. Pork loin, London broil or roast turkey is $14.99.

The combo meals include two 1-pound side dishes and a choice of four rolls or a loaf of French bread. The side dish menu offers baked squash, mashed potatoes, cheddar potatoes, gravy, stuffing, tapioca pudding and chocolate pudding.

Customers make their choices from an 8-foot to 10-foot self-service display case in line with the service deli. About 5 feet of the tiered case are devoted to side dishes such as mashed potatoes and coleslaw. About 3 feet are devoted to entrees and approximately 2 feet to desserts.

A deli source at one store here told SN the combo meal prices are everyday prices, and she pointed out that they're a good value. She said the meatloaf entree for four, if bought separately, would be $5.99 and the sides, $2.50 each. A loaf of French bread is $1.09.

The deli associate said she thinks the fried chicken meal for four, at $8.99, is the best bargain. It includes eight pieces of fried chicken; a pound of gravy; a pound of mashed potatoes; a pound of coleslaw, macaroni salad or potato salad, and four biscuits. If bought separately, the eight pieces of chicken would be $5.49, the sides $1.99 each and four biscuits would be 79 cents.

While the fried and rotisserie chicken are made in-store, the other items are brought in from an outside supplier, the associate said. When asked if the chicken is available all day, the deli associate said yes, but she suggested customers call in the order ahead of time.

Officials at Safeway's Denver division office did not return SN's phone calls seeking a comment on the combo meals.