Washington, DC - Safeway Chairman, President and CEO Steven A. Burd will give the keynote address at the United Fresh Las Vegas 2008 convention, Monday morning, May 5.

Over the past several years, Mr. Burd has become a leader of the American business community in driving solutions to the health care crisis facing both individuals and businesses caught in a spiraling escalation of costs with little impact on improved health. Based on his experience leading one of North America’s largest food and drug retailers in tackling these challenges for its employees, Mr. Burd has developed real world solutions with incentives for individuals to make healthy choices such as getting enough exercise and eating healthy diets based on increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

“We are thrilled to have Steve Burd help launch our convention,” said United Fresh Chairman of the Board Emanuel Lazopoulos, Del Monte Fresh Produce. “Our entire industry respects what Steve has done in developing Safeway’s Ingredients for Life market platform, and I know our industry will be inspired by Steve’s passion and real successes in transforming traditional health care approaches to better meet employees’ needs. His vision is now helping drive a national dialogue among business, unions, government and other stakeholders to bring innovative solutions to the nation’s health care needs,” he said.

Mr. Burd joined Safeway, Inc. in 1992 as President. Prior to joining the company, he was a management consultant to more than a dozen companies in a variety of industries, including consumer products, manufacturing, retailing, oil and gas, and agriculture.

In addition to chairing Safeway’s Board, Mr. Burd is a director of Kohl’s Corporation. He is also a member of the California Business Roundtable, the Carroll College Board of Trustees and serves on the Board of the Food Marketing Institute. Mr. Burd received a bachelor of science degree in economics from Carroll College in 1971 and a masters degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1973.

Mr. Burd will speak during the opening general session of the United Fresh Las Vegas 2008 convention, from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Monday, May 5, in the Platinum Ballroom at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel. Attendance at the General Session requires an All Access Convention Pass, which includes all education and conference programs, networking receptions, the Annual Awards Banquet, and three days of attendance at the United Fresh Marketplace and FreshTech expositions, as well as the FMI Show and FMI Marketechnics.

For information about registering, please visit http://www.unitedfreshshows.com/.