<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 4(i).1



                                  SAFEWAY INC.
                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF MARCH 19, 1999


               This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 19,
1999 (this "FIRST AMENDMENT") to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 1997
(as amended, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), is by and among Safeway Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("COMPANY"), The Vons Companies, Inc. ("VONS" and together with
Company, the "DOMESTIC BORROWERS"), Canada Safeway Limited (together with the
Domestic Borrowers, the "BORROWERS"), the financial institutions named on the
signature pages hereof ("LENDERS"), Bankers Trust Company ("BTCO"), as
Administrative Agent for Lenders ("ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"), The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as Syndication Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association, as Documentation Agents. Capitalized
terms used herein without definition shall have the same meanings herein as set
forth in the Credit Agreement.


                                    RECITALS

               WHEREAS, Domestic Borrowers have requested that the Tranche B
Domestic Commitment be increased from $880,666,667 to $1,000,000,000;

               WHEREAS, Tranche B Domestic Lenders have agreed to make Tranche B
Domestic Loans to the Domestic Borrowers in an amount equal to their respective
Tranche B Domestic Commitments set forth on Schedule 1 annexed hereto;

               WHEREAS, Domestic Borrowers have agreed to pay to the Tranche B
Domestic Lenders, a utilization fee in connection with any utilized Tranche B
Domestic Commitments under the Credit Agreement; and

               WHEREAS, the Borrowers and Lenders have agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions of this First Amendment, to restate subsection 9.4(i) of
the Credit Agreement to clarify the intent of such provision to allow for the
merger of other Persons with and into the Company or its Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries as provided therein and to make certain other modifications to the
Credit Agreement as set forth herein.

                                    AGREEMENT

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions
herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:


<PAGE>   2


                                    SECTION 1
               EXTENSION OF TRANCHE B REVOLVING TERMINATION DATE.

               Pursuant to subsection 2.8 of the Credit Agreement, each Tranche
B Domestic Lender by execution of a counterpart hereof agrees that the Tranche B
Revolving Termination Date (which date is currently April 5, 1999) is hereby
extended for an additional 364 days.

                                   SECTION 2.
                   INCREASE IN TRANCHE B DOMESTIC COMMITMENT.

               Subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement
(including subsection 2.1A(iii) thereof), each Domestic Lender listed on
Schedule 1 annexed hereto severally agrees to lend Domestic Borrowers from time
to time during the period from the First Amendment Effective Date to such
Lender's Tranche B Revolving Termination Date an aggregate amount, not exceeding
such Lender's Tranche B Domestic Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount of the
Tranche B Domestic Commitments. The portion of Schedule 2.1 of the Credit
Agreement relating to the Tranche B Domestic Commitments of Domestic Lenders is
hereby amended and restated in the form attached hereto as Schedule 1.


                                   SECTION 3.
                       AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

               A. UTILIZATION FEE. Subsection 2.3 of the Credit Agreement is
hereby amended to add paragraph D, which shall read as follows:

                     "D. UTILIZATION FEE. The Domestic Borrowers shall pay to
       the Agent for distribution to each Tranche B Domestic Lender as provided
       herein, a utilization fee based on the actual daily aggregate principal
       amount of Tranche B Domestic Loans then outstanding hereunder with
       respect to each day on which the principal amount of all Tranche B
       Domestic Loans outstanding exceeds 35% of the Tranche B Domestic
       Commitments as of the First Amendment Effective Date. The amount of the
       utilization fee will equal 0.25% per annum of outstanding Tranche B
       Domestic Loans during each day on which outstanding Tranche B Domestic
       Loans exceeds 35% of the aggregate Tranche B Domestic Commitments as of
       the First Amendment Effective Date and shall be increased to 0.50% per
       annum of outstanding Tranche B Domestic Loans during each day on which
       outstanding Tranche B Domestic Loans exceed 70% of the aggregate Tranche
       B Domestic Commitments as of the First Amendment Effective Date. The
       utilization fee shall be payable to each Tranche B Domestic Lender in
       proportion to such Lender's Tranche B Domestic Pro Rata Share for the
       period from and including the First Amendment Effective Date to and
       excluding such Lender's Tranche B Revolving Termination Date. In the
       event that any Lender's Tranche B Domestic Loans remain outstanding
       beyond such Lender's Tranche B Revolving Termination Date, a utilization
       fee of 0.50% per annum shall be payable to such Lender based on the
       actual daily aggregate principal amount of such loans outstanding for the
       period from and including

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

       such Lender's Tranche B Revolving Termination Date, to and excluding such
       Lender's Tranche B Term Termination Date. In the event any Tranche B
       Domestic Loans remain outstanding beyond any Lender's Tranche B Term
       Termination Date, the utilization fees described in the previous sentence
       shall continue to accrue on such Loans and be due and payable as
       described in this subsection 2.3D. All such utilization fees described in
       this subsection 2.3D are to be payable quarterly in arrears on each
       Quarterly Payment Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after
       the First Amendment Effective Date, and on each Tranche B Domestic
       Lender's Tranche B Revolving Termination Date and Tranche B Term
       Termination Date, as the case may be."

               B. DEFINITIONS. Subsection 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended to include the following definitions:

               "FIRST AMENDMENT" means the First Amendment to the Agreement
        dated as of March 19, 1999 by and among Borrowers, the financial
        institutions party thereto, BTCo, as Administrative Agent for Lenders,
        Chase, as Syndication Agent, Scotiabank and BofA, as Documentation
        Agents.

               "FIRST AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date on which the
        First Amendment became effective in accordance with its terms.

               "TRANCHE B DOMESTIC LENDER" means any Domestic Lender having a
        Tranche B Domestic Commitment.

               C. RESTRICTION ON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES; MATERIAL ASSET SALES.
Subsection 9.4 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting paragraph
(i) in its entirety and substituting the following in place thereof:

                      "(i) any Subsidiary of Company or any other Person may be
        merged or amalgamated with or into Company or any Wholly-Owned
        Subsidiary of Company, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved into, or
        all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed,
        sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction
        or a series of transactions, to Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
        of Company; provided that, (a) in the case of any such merger involving
        Company, Company shall be the surviving corporation, (b) in the case of
        such a merger involving Vons or Canada Safeway but not covered by clause
        (a), Vons or Canada Safeway, as the case may be, shall be the surviving
        corporation and shall, after giving effect to such merger, be a
        Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company, and (c) in the case of such a merger
        involving a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and not covered by either clause (a)
        or clause (b) above, the surviving corporation shall be a Wholly-Owned
        Subsidiary of Company; and"

                                       3
<PAGE>   4


                                   SECTION 4.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

               In order to induce Lenders to enter into this First Amendment and
to amend the Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, Borrowers represent
and warrant to each Lender as of the date hereof, as of the First Amendment
Effective Date that the following statements are true, correct and complete:

               A. CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORITY. Borrowers have all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this First Amendment and to carry
out the transactions contemplated by, and perform its obligations under, the
Credit Agreement.

               B. AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENTS. The execution and delivery of
this First Amendment and the performance of the Credit Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrowers.

               C. NO CONFLICT. The execution and delivery by Borrowers of this
First Amendment and the performance by Borrowers of the Credit Agreement do not
and will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule or
regulation applicable to Borrowers or any Subsidiary, the Certificate or
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Borrowers or any Subsidiary or any order,
judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on
Borrowers or any Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or
constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any
Contractual Obligation of Borrowers or any Subsidiary, (iii) result in or
require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or
assets of Borrowers or any Subsidiary (other than Liens created under any of the
Loan Documents in favor of Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders), or (iv)
require any approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person
under any Contractual Obligation of Borrowers or any Subsidiary, except for such
approvals which will be obtained on or before the First Amendment Effective Date
and disclosed in writing to Lenders.

               D. GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS. The execution and delivery by Borrowers
of this First Amendment and the performance by Borrowers of the Credit Agreement
do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or
notice to, or other action to, with or by, any federal, state or other
governmental authority or regulatory body.

               E. BINDING OBLIGATION. This First Amendment has been duly
executed and delivered by Borrowers and, when executed and delivered, this First
Amendment and the Credit Agreement will be the legally valid and binding
obligations of Borrowers, enforceable against Borrowers in accordance with their
respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors'
rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

               F. INCORPORATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES FROM CREDIT
AGREEMENT. The representations and warranties contained in Section 7 of the
Credit Agreement are and will be true, correct and complete in all material
respects to the same extent as though


                                       4
<PAGE>   5

made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and
warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case they were true,
correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date.

               G. ABSENCE OF DEFAULT. No event has occurred and is continuing or
will result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this First
Amendment that would constitute an Event of Default or a Potential Event of
Default.


                                   SECTION 5.
                          CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS.

               This First Amendment shall become effective only on or after
April 5, 1999 and only upon the satisfaction of all of the following conditions
precedent, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent (the
"FIRST AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE"):

               (i) On or before the First Amendment Effective Date, the
               Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent
               resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Borrower
               authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance
               of this First Amendment, in each case certified by the corporate
               secretary or an assistant secretary of such Borrower, as the case
               may be, as of the First Amendment Effective Date;

               (ii) On or before the First Amendment Effective Date, the
               Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a
               certificate of the corporate secretary or an assistant secretary
               of each Borrower which shall certify, as of the First Amendment
               Effective Date, the names and offices of the officers of each
               Borrower authorized to sign this First Amendment;

               (iii) On or before the First Amendment Effective Date, the
               Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a
               counterpart hereof executed by a duly authorized officer of each
               Borrower, Requisite Lenders and each Tranche B Domestic Lender;


               (iv) On or before the First Amendment Effective Date, the
               Domestic Borrowers shall have paid (a) to each Tranche B
               Domestic Lender that has offered a Tranche B Domestic
               Commitment of $75 million or more an upfront fee of (i) 0.10%
               of its allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment to the extent
               that its allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment is greater
               than $75 million and (ii) an upfront fee of 0.08% of its
               allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment to the extent that
               such allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment is less than or
               equal to $75 million, (b) to each Tranche B Domestic Lender
               that has offered a Tranche B Domestic Commitment of at least
               $45 million but less than $75 million an upfront fee of 0.06%
               of its allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment and (c) to each
               Tranche B Domestic Lender that has offered a Tranche B
               Domestic

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

               Commitment of less than $45 million an upfront fee of 0.04% of
               its allocated Tranche B Domestic Commitment.


                                   SECTION 6.
                            LIMITATION OF AMENDMENTS.

               Without limiting the generality of the provisions of subsection
13.7 of the Credit Agreement, the consent and the amendments set forth above
shall be limited precisely by their terms, shall not have any force or effect
with respect to any other matter except as expressly provided above, and nothing
in this First Amendment shall be deemed to:

               (i) constitute a waiver or modification of any other term,
               provision or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other
               instrument or agreement referred to therein; or

               (ii) prejudice any right or remedy that Administrative Agent or
               any Lender may now have (except to the extent such right or
               remedy was based upon existing defaults that will not exist after
               giving effect to this First Amendment) or may have in the future
               under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other
               instrument or agreement referred to therein.

               Except as expressly set forth herein, the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in
full force and effect and in all other respects are hereby ratified and
confirmed.


                                   SECTION 7.
                                 MISCELLANEOUS.

               A. REFERENCE TO AND EFFECT ON THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS.

               (i) On and after the First Amendment Effective Date, each
               reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement",
               "hereunder", "hereof", "herein" or words of like import referring
               to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan
               Documents to the "Credit Agreement", "thereunder", "thereof" or
               words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement shall mean
               and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this
               First Amendment.

               (ii) Except as specifically amended by this First Amendment, the
               Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in
               full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

               (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this First
               Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein,
               constitute a waiver of any provision of,

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

               or operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of Agent or
               any Lender under, the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
               Documents.

               B. FEES AND EXPENSES. Borrowers acknowledge that all costs, fees
and expenses as described in subsection 13.2 of the Credit Agreement incurred by
Administrative Agent and its counsel with respect to this First Amendment and
the documents and transactions contemplated hereby shall be for the account of
Borrowers.

               C. HEADINGS. Section and subsection headings in this First
Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not
constitute a part of this First Amendment for any other purpose or be given any
substantive effect.

               D. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

               E. COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS. This First Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
and the same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate
counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages
are physically attached to the same document. This First Amendment shall become
effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by Borrowers, Tranche B
Domestic Lenders, Requisite Lenders and receipt by Company and Administrative
Agent of written or telephonic notification of such execution and authorization
of delivery thereof.





                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


                                       7
<PAGE>   8

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Amendment to be executed as of the date first above written, by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.


BORROWERS:                        SAFEWAY INC.


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE VONS COMPANIES, INC.


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


LENDERS:                          ABN-AMRO BANK N.V., as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  BANCA DI ROMA, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI DE SIENA, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANCA POPULARE DI MILANO, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-1

<PAGE>   9

                                  BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL TRUST & SAVINGS
                                  ASSOCIATION, as a Domestic Lender and as a
                                  Documentation Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANK OF MONTREAL, as a Domestic Lender and a
                                  Canadian Lender and as an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Domestic Lender and as
                                  an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Domestic Lender
                                  and a Canadian Lender and as primary
                                  Documentation Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as a Domestic Lender
                                  and as Administrative Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANK OF SCOTLAND, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                      S-2

<PAGE>   10

                                  BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CARIPLO-CASSA DI RISPARMIO DELLE PROVINCIE
                                  LOMBARDE SPA, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Syndication Agent
                                  and as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as a
                                  Domestic Lender and a Canadian Lender and as
                                  an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CITICORP USA, INC., as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-3

<PAGE>   11

                                  FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARYLAND, as a
                                  Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED, SAN
                                  FRANCISCO AGENCY, as a Domestic Lender

V

                                  KEY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE LONG TERM CREDIT BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED,
                                  LOS ANGELES AGENCY, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                      S-4
<PAGE>   12




                                  MELLON BANK, N.A., as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  MERCANTILE BANK OF ST. LOUIS, N.A., as a
                                  Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                  a Domestic Lender and as an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Domestic Lender and
                                  a Canadian Lender and as an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED, as a Domestic
                                  Lender and as an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as a Domestic
                                  Lender and as an Agent

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                      S-5
<PAGE>   13

                                  US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Domestic
                                  Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a
                                  Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., as a Domestic Lender

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------



                                      S-6


<PAGE>   14


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   SCHEDULE 1

DOMESTIC LENDER                                           TRANCHE B DOMESTIC COMMITMENT
---------------                                           -----------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>
ABN-Amro Bank N.V                                                 $ 8,000,000
Banca Di Roma                                                     $18,000,000
Banca Populare Di Milano                                          $10,000,000
Bank of America, National Trust & Savings                         $62,500,000
Association
Bank of Montreal                                                  $45,000,000
Bank of New York                                                  $45,000,000
The Bank of Nova Scotia                                           $62,500,000
Bankers Trust Company                                             $72,500,000
Banque Nationale de Paris                                         $16,000,000
Cariplo-Cassa di Risparmio Delle Provincie                        $ 3,500,000
Lombarde Spa

The Chase Manhattan Bank                                          $72,500,000
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce                                $45,000,000
Citicorp USA, Inc.                                                $50,000,000
Credit Agricole Indosuez                                          $25,000,000
Credit Suisse First Boston                                        $18,000,000
First Hawaiian Bank                                               $25,000,000
First National Bank of Chicago                                    $50,000,000
The First National Bank of Maryland                               $10,000,000
Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited, San                            $16,000,000
Francisco Agency

Key Bank National Association                                     $45,000,000
Mellon Bank, N.A                                                  $ 5,500,000
Northern Trust Company                                            $35,000,000
Royal Bank of Canada                                              $45,000,000
</TABLE>


                                       1
<PAGE>   15


                          TRANCHE B DOMESTIC COMMITMENT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


DOMESTIC LENDER                                           TRANCHE B DOMESTIC COMMITMENT
---------------                                           -----------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>
DOMESTIC LENDER
The Sumitomo Bank, Limited                                        $   45,000,000
Union Bank of California, N.A                                     $   50,000,000
US Bank National Association                                      $   50,000,000
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association                            $   25,000,000
Wachovia Bank, N.A                                                $   45,000,000
                                                                  --------------
TOTAL                                                             $1,000,000,000
                                                                  ==============
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>   16

                                  SAFEWAY INC.
                                SECOND AMENDMENT
                               TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
                            DATED AS OF MARCH 9, 2000


               This SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 9,
2000 (this "Amendment" or the "SECOND AMENDMENT") to the Credit Agreement dated
as of April 8, 1997, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated
as of March 19, 1999 (as amended, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), is by and among
Safeway Inc., a Delaware corporation ("COMPANY"), The Vons Companies, Inc.
("VONS" and together with the Company, the "DOMESTIC BORROWERS"),Canada Safeway
Limited (together with the Domestic Borrowers, the "BORROWERS"), the financial
institutions named on the signature pages hereof ("LENDERS"), Bankers Trust
Company ("BTCO"), as Administrative Agent for Lenders ("ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"),
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia and
Bank of America, N.A., as Documentation Agents. Capitalized terms used herein
without definition shall have the same meanings herein as set forth in the
Credit Agreement.

                                    RECITALS

               WHEREAS, Company and Requisite Lenders desire to amend the Credit
Agreement to increase the utilization fees for the Tranche B Domestic Loans
payable pursuant to Subsection 2.3D thereof and permit Company to request an
additional extension of the Tranche B Revolving Termination Date on any date
after May 1, 2000 and on or prior to June 30, 2000, as more specifically
provided for herein;

               WHEREAS, after giving effect to this Second Amendment, the
Tranche B Domestic Loan facility shall be deemed to be amended and restated as
specifically provided herein and in the Credit Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions
herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

               SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

               1.1 Amendment to Section 2.3D: Utilization Fee

                   Subsection 2.3D of the Credit Agreement is amended by
deleting the reference therein to "0.25%" and substituting "0.30%" therefor and
deleting the two references therein to "0.50%" and substituting "0.60%"
therefor.

               1.2 Amendment to Section 2.8:  Extension of Tranche B Revolving
Termination Date.


                                       1
<PAGE>   17

                      Section 2.8 is hereby amended by the addition of the
following paragraph after the first paragraph of such section:

               "At any time after May 1, 2000 and on or prior to June 30, 2000,
Company may, at its option, deliver to Administrative Agent, for distribution to
each Lender within five Business Days of Administrative Agent's receipt thereof,
a Tranche B Extension Request signed by each Domestic Borrower requesting an
extension of the Tranche B Revolving Termination Date for 364 days pursuant to
such Tranche B Extension Request as provided in this paragraph. Each Lender may,
in its sole discretion, consent or not consent to any such Tranche B Extension
Request and, if such Lender so consents, such Lender shall deliver its consent
to such Tranche B Extension Request to Administrative Agent (which shall
promptly notify Company of such consent) during the 30 day period following the
date of such Tranche B Extension Request. Any Lender that fails to consent to
such Tranche B Extension Request within such 30 day period shall be deemed to
have rejected such Tranche B Extension Request. If Administrative Agent shall
have received, within such 30 day period, consents to such Tranche B Extension
Request from one or more Lenders, the Tranche B Revolving Termination Date to be
extended pursuant to such request shall, with respect to those Lenders
consenting to such request, be extended for 364 days from the end of such 30 day
period, and, on or prior to the end of such 30 day period, the Domestic
Borrowers shall pay to each Lender that has consented to such Tranche B
Extension Request a fee of 0.02% of its Tranche B Domestic Commitments. If any
Lender rejects a Tranche B Extension Request pursuant to this paragraph, Company
may, at its option, at any time prior to the Tranche B Revolving Termination
Date (as in effect prior to giving effect to such Tranche B Extension Request),
replace such rejecting Lender by causing such Lender to assign, and each Lender
agrees that, following its rejection of any Tranche B Extension Request and upon
the written request of Company, it shall assign, its Tranche B Domestic Loans
and Tranche B Domestic Commitment, as the case may be, to another Lender or an
Eligible Assignee identified by Company (that, in either case, has agreed to the
Tranche B Extension Request) in accordance with the provisions of subsection
13.1; provided that no assignment fee shall be payable to Primary Documentation
Agent in connection with such assignment. Administrative Agent shall give
Company and each Lender prompt notice of any extension of the Tranche B
Revolving Termination Date pursuant to this paragraph."

               SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

               In order to induce Requisite Lenders to enter into this Second
Amendment, Company represents and warrants to each Lender that:

               A. No event would result from the execution of this Second
               Amendment and, after giving effect to this Amendment, no event
               has occurred or is continuing which constitutes an Event of
               Default or Potential Event of Default;

               B. After giving effect to this Second Amendment, the
               representations and warranties of Company contained in the Credit
               Agreement, as amended by this Second Amendment (the "Amended
               Credit Agreement") are true, correct and complete in all material
               respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as
               though made on and as of the date hereof, except that the
               representations and warranties need not be true and correct to
               the extent that changes in the facts and

                                       2
<PAGE>   18

               conditions on which such representations and warranties are
               based are required or permitted under the Credit Agreement;

               C. This Second Amendment, the Amended Credit Agreement, and the
               consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
               do not and will not (i) violate any provisions of law applicable
               to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Certificate of
               Incorporation or Bylaws of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
               any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of
               government binding on Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii)
               conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due
               notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, the indentures
               pursuant to which any outstanding Subordinated Indebtedness or
               any term of any other material agreement or instrument to which
               Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
               their properties or assets are bound;

               D. Each Loan Party has performed in all material respects all
               agreements and satisfied all conditions which the Credit
               Agreement and this Second Amendment provide shall be performed by
               it on or before the date hereof; and

               E. The execution, delivery and performance by Company of this
               Second Amendment are within the corporate power of Company and
               have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
               the part of Company, and this Second Amendment and the Amended
               Credit Agreement constitute the valid and binding obligations of
               Company enforceable against Company in accordance with their
               respective terms, subject to the effect of any applicable
               bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws relating to
               or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.


               SECTION 3. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS.

               This Second Amendment shall become effective on the first date
Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, shall have received all of the
following, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent (the
"Second Amendment Effective Date"):

                      A. A certificate of the corporate secretary or an
               assistant secretary of each Borrower which shall certify, as of
               the Second Amendment Effective Date, the names and offices of the
               officers of each Borrower authorized to sign this Amendment;

                      B. A counterpart hereof executed by a duly authorized
               officer of each Borrower and Requisite Lenders, or in the case of
               any Lender, telecopy or telephone confirmation from such Lender
               of its execution hereof.


               On the later of (i) April 3, 2000 and (ii) the first date on
which both the Second Amendment Effective Date has occurred and the Tranche B
Revolving Termination Date for all or a portion of the Tranche B Domestic Loans
has been extended to April 2, 2001, the Domestic Borrowers shall pay to each
Tranche B Domestic Lender that has elected to execute the Second

                                       3
<PAGE>   19

               Amendment and has extended its Tranche B Domestic Commitments to
April 2, 2001 a fee of 0.03% of its Tranche B Domestic Commitments.

               SECTION 4. MISCELLANEOUS.

               A. REFERENCE TO AND EFFECT ON THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS.

               (i) On and after the Second Amendment Effective Date, each
        reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder",
        "hereof", "herein" or words of like import referring to the Credit
        Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to the "Credit
        Agreement", "thereunder", "thereof" or words of like import referring to
        the Credit Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Amended Credit
        Agreement.

               (ii) Except as specifically amended by this Second Amendment, the
        Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force
        and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

               (iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Second
        Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, constitute a
        waiver of any provision of, or operate as a waiver of any right, power
        or remedy of Agent or any Lender under, the Credit Agreement or any of
        the other Loan Documents.

               B. COUNTERPARTS. This Second Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, and by different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate
counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages
are physically attached to the same document.

               C. HEADINGS. Section and subsection headings in this Second
Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not
constitute a part of this Second Amendment for any other purpose or be given any
substantive effect.

               D. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

                   Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank


                                       4
<PAGE>   20

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second
Amendment to be executed as of the date first above written, by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.

BORROWERS:                        SAFEWAY INC.


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE VONS COMPANIES, INC.


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


LENDERS:                          BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as a Domestic Lender
                                  and as Administrative Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Syndication Agent
                                  and a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK OF CANADA, as a
                                  Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-1
<PAGE>   21


                                  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Domestic Lender
                                  and a Canadian Lender and as primary
                                  Documentation Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Domestic Lender
                                  and as a Documentation Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  DEUTSCHE BANK CANADA, as a Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  ALLFIRST BANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  WACHOVIA BANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-2
<PAGE>   22



                                  BANK ONE, NA (main office Chicago), as a
                                  Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANK OF SCOTLAND, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI DE SIENA, as a Domestic
                                  Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO, as a Domestic
                                  Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANCA POPOLARE DI MILANO, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  GE CAPITAL COM'L FINANCE, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  KEYBANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-3
<PAGE>   23

                                  BANK OF AMERICA CANADA, as a Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CITICORP USA, INC., as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CITIBANK CANADA, as a Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  MELLON BANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  STB DELAWARE FUNDING TRUST I, as a Domestic
                                  Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  MERCANTILE BANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                       S-4
<PAGE>   24

                                  BANK OF MONTREAL, as a Domestic Lender and a
                                  Canadian Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CARIPLO-CASSA DI RISPARMIO DELLE PROVINCIE
                                  LOMBARDE S.P.A., as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, as a
                                  Domestic Lender and a Canadian Lender and as
                                  an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Domestic Lender and
                                  a Canadian Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK OF OREGON, as a
                                  Domestic Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  BANK HAPOALIM, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------



                                       S-5
<PAGE>   25

                                  THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED, SAN FRANCISCO
                                  BRANCH, as a Domestic Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE SUMITOMO BANK OF CANADA, as a Canadian
                                  Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as a Domestic
                                  Lender and as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LIMITED, SAN
                                  FRANCISCO AGENCY, as a Domestic Lender and as
                                  an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Domestic Lender and
                                  as an Agent


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                      S-6

<PAGE>   26

                                  ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE TOKAI BANK, LTD., LOS ANGELES AGENCY, as a
                                  Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  TOKAI BANK CANADA, as a Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a
                                  Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                      S-7
<PAGE>   27



                                  BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS, as a Domestic
                                  Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS (CANADA), as a
                                  Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED, as a
                                  Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN (CANADA), as a
                                  Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  THE SANWA BANK LIMITED, LOS ANGELES BRANCH, as
                                  a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as a Domestic
                                  Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------



                                       S-8
<PAGE>   28


                                  THE SAKURA BANK, LIMITED, SAN FRANCISCO
                                  AGENCY, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  SAKURA BANK (CANADA), as a Canadian Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------


                                  BANCA DI ROMA, as a Domestic Lender


                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  By:
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------------



                                      S-9