Quick Answer: The best cheese at Safeway and Albertsons for a charcuterie board is Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese (4.7 out of 5). Primo Taglio, the store's deli brand, is the one to trust: its fresh mozzarella, provolone and pepperoni all rank well. Best value: Lucerne Pepper Jack. The same picks apply at Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's, Tom Thumb and other Albertsons-owned stores.
Safeway and Albertsons, along with sister stores like Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's and Tom Thumb, share the same store brands: Primo Taglio for deli meat and cheese, Lucerne for everyday dairy and Signature Select for pantry staples. Their cheese cases don't rank near the top in reviews, but a few products are genuinely good. These are the ones to build a board around.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests, awards and shopper ratings, its ingredients, price and how easy it is to find, plus how it behaves on a board. Store stock changes, especially for seasonal items, so check your local store. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best cheese: Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| Best deli cheese: Primo Taglio Provolone ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best meat: Primo Taglio Uncured Pepperoni ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best value: Lucerne Pepper Jack ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | The spreadable cheese |
| 2. Primo Taglio Fresh Mozzarella ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Caprese skewers |
| 3. Primo Taglio Provolone ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Roll-ups and sliders |
| 4. Tillamook Pepper Jack ($) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Mild heat |
| 5. Primo Taglio Uncured Pepperoni ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Board-sized pepperoni |
| 6. Lucerne Pepper Jack ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Budget spicy cheese |
| 7. Lucerne Provolone ($) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | A budget mild cheese |
| 8. Laura Chenel Mango Habanero Goat Cheese ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.6 | Sweet heat |
1. Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Best cheese · Best for: The spreadable cheese · $$ mid-range
Our top-ranked fresh goat cheese (see our goat cheese ranking), and one of the brands The Takeout highlights in Safeway's cheese case.
- Why we like it: Creamy, tangy and reliable.
- Keep in mind: Soft, so serve it in a log with a spreader.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons cheese cases.
2. Primo Taglio Fresh Mozzarella
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best for: Caprese skewers · $ budget
Our top-ranked fresh mozzarella (see our fresh mozzarella ranking): sweet and bouncy.
- Why we like it: A store brand that beats the name brands.
- Keep in mind: Fresh mozzarella only keeps a few days once opened.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons deli and cheese cases.
3. Primo Taglio Provolone
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best deli cheese · Best for: Roll-ups and sliders · $ budget
Sporked gave it 9.5 out of 10 for an elusive smokiness and tang other provolones don't have. It's #2 in our provolone ranking.
- Why we like it: Lots of flavor for a store brand.
- Keep in mind: Sliced, so roll it rather than cube it.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons deli.
4. Tillamook Pepper Jack
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best for: Mild heat · $ budget
Tasting Table called Tillamook's pepper jack a great entry point into peppery cheeses, and Safeway carries the brand (Tasting Table).
- Why we like it: Creamy with gentle heat.
- Keep in mind: Less fire than Cabot.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons dairy case.
5. Primo Taglio Uncured Pepperoni
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best meat · Best for: Board-sized pepperoni · $$ mid-range
#2 in our pepperoni ranking, with wide slices that lie flat on a board.
- Why we like it: Bigger slices than snack pepperoni.
- Keep in mind: Costs a little more than mass-market pepperoni.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons deli.
6. Lucerne Pepper Jack
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Budget spicy cheese · $ budget
The Lucerne cheese Tasting Table's taster liked best.
- Why we like it: Cheap and good.
- Keep in mind: Plain-looking on a board, so cube it.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons dairy case.
7. Lucerne Provolone
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best for: A budget mild cheese · $ budget
Tasting Table found Lucerne's provolone pretty flavorful for provolone.
- Why we like it: Inexpensive.
- Keep in mind: Milder than Primo Taglio.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons dairy case.
8. Laura Chenel Mango Habanero Goat Cheese
★★★½☆ 3.6 out of 5 · Best for: Sweet heat · $$ mid-range
A flavored goat cheese The Takeout spotted in Safeway's cheese case.
- Why we like it: Sweet and spicy, good with crackers.
- Keep in mind: Flavored cheese isn't for everyone. Serve it next to the plain log.
- Where to find it: Safeway and Albertsons cheese cases.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests, awards and shopper ratings (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4.7 |
| Primo Taglio Fresh Mozzarella | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.5 |
| Primo Taglio Provolone | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 |
| Tillamook Pepper Jack | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Primo Taglio Uncured Pepperoni | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Lucerne Pepper Jack | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.0 |
| Lucerne Provolone | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3.8 |
| Laura Chenel Mango Habanero Goat Cheese | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3.6 |
Building a board from these
For 8 to 10 guests, pick:
- Cheeses: Laura Chenel goat cheese, Primo Taglio provolone and Tillamook or Lucerne pepper jack. Add a sharp cheddar from the cheese case.
- Meats: Primo Taglio pepperoni plus salami and prosciutto from the deli counter.
- Extras: crackers, olives, grapes, a jam and Primo Taglio mozzarella balls with cherry tomatoes and basil.
Plan on about 3 oz of cheese and 3 oz of meat per guest when the board is the party food, or 2 oz each before a meal.
What to skip
The Takeout ranked Safeway 12th of 13 chains for cheese: reviewers found Lucerne mozzarella and cheddar weak on flavor and complained about inconsistent deli slicing. Buy cheddar from a better brand in the cheese case, and ask the deli to slice meat thin.
For other stores, see our guides to Costco, Walmart and every store on our charcuterie buying guides page.
Safeway and Albertsons charcuterie questions
What is the best cheese at Safeway for a charcuterie board?
Laura Chenel Original Fresh Goat Cheese. For deli cheese, Primo Taglio provolone scored 9.5 out of 10 in Sporked's taste test.
Is Primo Taglio good?
Yes, for deli meat and cheese. Its fresh mozzarella, provolone and pepperoni all rank near the top of our buying guides.
Which stores sell Primo Taglio and Lucerne?
Albertsons-owned stores, including Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's, Tom Thumb and Randalls.
Sources
- The Takeout: 13 Grocery Store Chains, Ranked By Their Cheese Selection (Sep 2026)
- Tasting Table: 12 Popular Chain Grocery Stores For Cheese, Ranked
- Tasting Table: 9 Sliced Cheese Brands, Ranked (May 2026)
- Sporked: The Best Provolone Cheese
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