Blackhawk Network, Safeway's prepaid gift-card subsidiary, has forged an exclusive relationship with Staples, Inc. to bring the former's signature Gift Card Mall to the office supply chain's fleet of U.S. stores.

Currently available in Safeway and other grocery stores, Blackhawk's Gift Card Mall features over 300 of the best branded gift cards across a number of different categories including fashion, tickets, electronics, home, and sports.

Calling the office supply retailer "a valuable retail outlet...because of its understanding of the B-2-B aspect of our business," Don Kingsborough, Blackhawk's c.e.o., said working with Staples "will reach small business owners and give them the ability to purchase prepaid gift cards for their employees in the same place they buy office supplies."

Staples is the first office supply store to carry Blackhawk's gift cards.

The Pleasanton, Calif.-based Blackhawk's grocery, convenience, drug and specialty retailer network includes more than 80,000 store fronts, and reaches more than 165 million consumers each week.