Toys "R" Us launched the Toy Box concept last year, and is now expanding that test. Toy Box is a branded Toys "R" Us store-within-a-store concept that offers customers a wide selection of the most popular toys. It combines Toys "R" Us' well-known and trusted brand and expertise in toys with the accessibility that customers want in the place they shop most often.

The store-within-a-store concept also provides a valuable point of differentiation for Albertsons Jewel-Osco stores. "The addition of the Toy Box concept reflects our customer-focused approach to growth and expansion," said Pete Van Helden, President of Albertsons Midwest Region. "The reputation and expertise of Toys "R" Us stores make them the ideal partner for us, as we maintain our dominance in the marketplace by continuously offering our customers the highest level of quality in products and service."

"We're delighted to further expand this grocery/toy concept through a premier grocery retailer like Albertson's," said Rick Markee, President, Specialty Businesses and International Operations, Toys "R" Us, Inc. "This expansion gives us an opportunity for broader penetration throughout the country and a chance to reach out to more customers. This is all about more convenience for customers, and we believe they value the convenience of being able to buy a birthday gift or other toys while they're shopping for groceries. They also appreciate finding the selection under the Toys "R" Us banner -- it helps them buy with confidence. We believe this is an idea whose time has come."

"We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Toys "R" Us in this venture and to bring our customers a new broader selection of toys they can conveniently purchase while doing their regular shopping in our stores," said Jim Willyard, Albertsons Group Vice President, Marketing, Drug and GM Category Management.

The test stores are located at 4660 W. Irving Park, Chicago; 6505 W. Diversey, Chicago; 944 York Road, Elmhurst; 1177 S. Main, Lombard; and 177 E. Roosevelt Road, West Chicago.

Albertsons is one of the world's largest food and drug retailers, with annual revenues of approximately $38 billion. Based in Boise, Idaho, the Company employs more than 200,000 employees and operates approximately 2,300 retail stores in 31 states across the United States, under banners including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Albertsons-Osco, Albertsons-Sav-on, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, Max Foods and Super Saver.

Jewel-Osco is the only Midwest retailer operating both combination food and drug stores and freestanding drug stores. Of the retailer's 283 locations, 200 are combination Jewel-Osco stores and 83 are freestanding Osco Drug stores.

Toys "R" Us is one of the world's leading retailers of toys, children's apparel and baby products, currently sells merchandise through 1,584 stores worldwide: 689 toy stores in the United States; 526 International toy stores, including franchise stores; 148 Kids "R" Us children's clothing stores; 178 Babies "R" Us stores; and 43 Imaginarium stores, and through Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com, http://www.babiesrus.com and http://www.imaginarium.com.