Content about Fresh & Easy

April 17, 2013
Tesco to exit U.S.; takes $3.5 billion global write-down

Grocery chain Fresh & Easy’s British parent Tesco confirmed Wednesday that it will abandon its U.S. business, selling off the 199-store chain and taking a $3.5 billion write-down.

London -- Grocery chain Fresh & Easy’s British parent Tesco confirmed Wednesday that it will abandon its U.S. business, selling off the 199-store chain and taking a $3.5 billion write-down.

March 29, 2013
Report: Tesco exploring options for Fresh & Easy

New York -- British grocery giant Tesco is moving closer to selling off its U.S. Fresh & Easy division, with Tesco CEO Philip Clarke traveling to the United States next week to try and strike a deal, according to a report in the British newspaper, The Telegraph.

Tesco has held discussions with Trader Joe’s and others about selling Fresh & Easy, but a break-up of the business is considered the most likely option, the report said. Other options include closing the business and selling off assets.

March 22, 2013
Report: Tesco uncertain of commitment to Fresh & Easy

In another sign that British retail giant Tesco is reconsidering its U.S. Fresh & Easy division, the company sent an email sent to shoppers in which it acknowledged that the grocer doesn't know "if Tesco will continue to own the company," the Los Angeles Times reported.

New York -- In another sign that British retail giant Tesco is reconsidering its U.S. Fresh & Easy division, the company sent an email sent to shoppers in which it acknowledged that the grocer doesn't know "if Tesco will continue to own the company," the Los Angeles Times reported.
 
Fresh & Easy spokesman Brendan Wonnacott said that Tesco is still reviewing its American chain, and will make an update in April as part of the company's full-year results, the report said.

July 27, 2012
Fresh & Easy makes corporate staffing cuts

A Thursday report by Supermarket News said that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has eliminated as many as 40 positions at its corporate offices.

El Segundo, Calif. -- A Thursday report by Supermarket News said that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has eliminated as many as 40 positions at its corporate offices.

While the number of layoffs has not been confirmed, sources say it nears 40 jobs, mostly in real estate and store-opening support.
 

July 2, 2012
Report: Tesco could exit U.S. if Fresh & Easy doesn’t improve

U.K. retailing giant Tesco PLC could give up its American supermarket venture, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, if the chain continues to disappoint and not make a profit, RetailWeek and other British news organizations reported.

New York -- U.K. retailing giant Tesco PLC could give up its American supermarket venture, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, if the chain continues to disappoint and not make a profit, RetailWeek and other British news organizations reported.

In remarks at the company’s annual meeting on Friday, Tesco CEO Philip Clarke said: “If we see there is no chance of success, we’ll do as we’ve just done in Japan,” referring to Tesco’s deal this month to exit that market.

March 15, 2012
Fresh & Easy and Hill Phoenix collaborate on GreenChill Platinum store

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market received the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership’s highest award — Platinum-Level Store Certification — for green refrigeration technology at its new store in Folsom, Calif.

Folsom, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market received the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership’s highest award — Platinum-Level Store Certification — for green refrigeration technology at its new store  in Folsom, Calif. It is just the second store in California, and one of just supermarkets in the nation, to achieve platinum certification.

March 8, 2012
Fresh & Easy makes Sacramento debut

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market opened its first two stores in the Sacramento region.

Sacramento, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market opened its first two stores in the Sacramento region.

Three additional locations are scheduled to open next week on March 14.

In total, Fresh & Easy will open five stores in the region this month, creating more than 150 new jobs.
 

February 7, 2012
Report: Fresh and Easy testing self-scanning device

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is testing a mobile self-scanning device at its store in Burbank, Calif., according to a report on Fresh & Easy Buzz, an independent blog that follows the chain.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is testing a mobile self-scanning device at its store in Burbank, Calif., according to a report on Fresh & Easy Buzz, an independent blog that follows the chain.

The scanning system, from Motorola, features a hand-held scanner device, which customers carry with them as they shop the store, the report said. Shoppers then scan the product codes on the items they purchase as they shop. The system allows shoppers to keep real time track of their purchases as they shop.
 

January 10, 2012
Fresh & Easy to close 12 stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, plans to close 12 underperforming stores, according to the Orange County Register.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, plans to close 12 underperforming stores, according to the Orange County Register. The company, however, left open the door to re-opening the stores at a later date.

January 10, 2012
Fresh & Easy to close 12 stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, plans to close 12 underperforming stores, according to the Orange County Register.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, plans to close 12 underperforming stores, according to the Orange County Register. The company, however, left open the door to re-opening the stores at a later date.

November 18, 2011
Fresh & Easy set to hire for 20 new stores opening

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced it is hiring for more than 20 stores that are set to open early next year.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced it is hiring for more than 20 stores that are set to open early next year.

The company expects to hire more than 600 employees for the new stores, which will be opening in California and Nevada.
 

November 4, 2011
Fresh & Easy debuts smaller Express format

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, has opened its first Fresh & Easy Express store, at La Cienega Boulevard and 18th Street in Los Angeles.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, has opened its first Fresh & Easy Express store, at La Cienega Boulevard and 18th Street in Los Angeles.

The new format is approximately 3,000 sq. ft. versus the 10,000-sq.-ft. footprint of a standard Fresh & Easy. It features an edited selection of some 2,700 SKUs, including fresh foods, baked items, groceries, and health and beauty items.
 

August 25, 2011
Fresh & Easy powers up REC solar panels at 11 stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market said Thursday it has turned on 11 rooftop solar installations in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Phoenix -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market said Thursday it has turned on 11 rooftop solar installations in Phoenix and Los Angeles. The panels, installed by REC Solar, will provide 536 kW of power and supply 20% of each store’s energy needs.

August 4, 2011
Fresh & Easy adds natural gas vehicles to its fleet

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has added 25 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its distribution fleet as part of a partnership with Ryder System.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has added 25 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its distribution fleet as part of a partnership with Ryder System. The new vehicles produce 20% to 30% less emissions than comparable diesel vehicles and are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions.

August 3, 2011
Fresh & Easy to test smaller format

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, has joined the growing number of retailers opening smaller-format stores.

New York City -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the U.S. division of Tesco, has joined the growing number of retailers opening smaller-format stores. The grocery store operator plans to test a new concept, called Fresh & Easy Express, in San Pedro, Calif.

Fresh & Easy’s new format will be in the 4,000 sq. ft. range, compared with its typical 10,000-sq.-ft. footprint.

For more, go to freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com/
 

May 24, 2011
Fresh & Easy to open two stores in San Francisco this summer

Fresh & Easy has announced the opening dates for its first two stores in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fresh & Easy has announced the opening dates for its first two stores in San Francisco.

The retail chain said that the stores, which will open on June 22 and Aug. 24, will create more than 50 jobs. What's more, Fresh & Easy also invites area residents to nominate a local, nonprofit organization to receive a $1,000 donation for each new store opening. Based on the nominations from the neighborhood, store employees will select the winning charity.

April 20, 2011
Tesco annual profit up, losses continue at Fresh & Easy

Tesco PLC said Tuesday that its profit rose 14% to $4.3 billion in its most recent fiscal year ending Feb.26, while annual group sales increased 8% to almost $106 billion.

New York City -- Tesco PLC said Tuesday that its profit rose 14% to $4.3 billion in its most recent fiscal year ending Feb.26, while annual group sales increased 8% to almost $106 billion. However, losses continued to mount at its U.S. division, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, which lost about $302.6 million. The division, which opened its first stores in 2007, now has 172 locations. It has yet to post a profit.

Tesco remains committed to Fresh & Easy, and said it is ramping up expansion, with about 50 stores on tap for this year.

March 2, 2011
Fresh & Easy enters Northern California

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its first locations in Northern California, in San Jose, and Danville.

San Jose, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its first locations in Northern California, in San Jose, and Danville.

The openings are the first of more than a dozen Fresh & Easy stores set to open early this year in Northern California. The chain, which opened its first stores in 2007, currently has 166 locations.
 

February 16, 2011
Fresh & Easy adds four more GreenChill-certified stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has added four more GreenChill certified stores this year, including a Gold certified store opening Wednesday in Oceanside, Calif.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has added four more GreenChill certified stores this year, including a Gold certified store opening Wednesday in Oceanside, Calif.

Fresh & Easy opened its first GreenChill certified store in September 2010, and now has a total of eight stores currently certified through the program -- the most of any grocer in the country. Only 45 of the nation’s more than 35,000 grocery stores have received GreenChill Store Certification awards.

January 12, 2011
Fresh & Easy to enter Northern California market in March

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Wednesday said it will open its first stores in Northern California in March and April, with the first two scheduled to open March 2 in San Jose and Danville.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Wednesday said it will open its first stores in Northern California in March and April, with the first two scheduled to open March 2 in San Jose and Danville. Nine additional locations are scheduled to open in the area within the two-month time frame.

Fresh & Easy also said it also plans to open two stores in San Francisco early this year.

December 9, 2010
Fresh & Easy to install solar systems on nine Arizona stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has announced a partnership with REC Solar, a leading solar electric system provider in the United States, to install roof-mount solar systems on nine stores in Arizona.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has announced a partnership with REC Solar, a leading solar electric system provider in the United States, to install roof-mount solar systems on nine stores in Arizona. The installation of the systems will begin in March 2011.

The combined 410 kW of installed solar systems will produce an estimated 620,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, the equivalent of reducing 22 million lbs. of CO2 emissions -- or removing 28 million car-driven miles -- over the next 25 years.

November 4, 2010
Fresh & Easy to expand in Southern California with 10 new stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Thursday announced plans to open 10 stores in Southern California early next year.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Thursday announced plans to open 10 stores in Southern California early next year.

The locations include Long Beach; San Diego; Walnut Park; Costa Mesa and Ventura.

November 3, 2010
Fresh & Easy to expand in Southern California with 10 new stores

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Thursday announced plans to open 10 stores in Southern...

October 5, 2010
Tesco profit up, details Fresh & Easy plans

Tesco PLC said Tuesday that its first-half trading profit (a metric that excludes property gains)...

September 30, 2010
Fresh & Easy Goes Greener

Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market is pushing the green envelope on two fronts: water...