Jump to content

Fresh & Easy: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted 1 edit by 107.139.53.81 using STiki
Line 41: Line 41:


==History==
==History==
On February 9, 2006, Tesco announced that it planned to move into the [[United States]] by opening a chain of small format grocery stores in the Western states (Arizona, California and Nevada) in 2007 named Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tescocorporate.com/page.aspx?pointerid=14163CB2412F41B1BD7765AC8DBE49EB | title = Tesco to enter United States |accessdate=March 13, 2006}}</ref> The initial planned capital expenditure is up to £250m ($436m USD) per year. After Tesco CEO [[Terry Leahy]] announced serious resources had been committed to developing a format that would be popular with American consumers, investors responded with some skepticism with a small drop in the company's share price.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4695890.stm| work=BBC News | title=Tesco plans foray into US market|date=February 9, 2006| accessdate=January 16, 2010}}</ref> The markets were expected to be around {{convert|1400|m2}}—good-sized supermarkets in many countries, but about one-third the size of an average supermarket within the US.<ref>''Britain's Tesco to Open Its First U.S. Stores in Southland'', ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' May 20, 2006. [http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tesco20may20,1,4395438.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true]</ref> By January 2007, Tesco opened its U.S. headquarters in [[El Segundo, California]],<ref name="elsegundo.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsegundo.net/upscale-british-retailer-moving-into-south-bay-12-09-2006.html|title= Upscale British retailer moving into South Bay, retrieved July 20, 2007}}</ref> near [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. The company initially expanded into [[Southern California]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]], and [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="tesco">{{cite news|url=http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/12/10/daily20.html?jst=b_ln_hl|title= Tesco signs deal for Fresh & Easy store in Bayview | first=J.K. |last=Dineen|newspaper=[[San Francisco Business Times]], December 11, 2007, accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref>
On February 9, 2006, Tesco announced that it planned to move into the [[United States]] by opening a chain of small format grocery stores in the Western states (Arizona, California and Nevada) in 2007 named Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tescocorporate.com/page.aspx?pointerid=14163CB2412F41B1BD7765AC8DBE49EB | title = Tesco to enter United States |accessdate=March 13, 2006}}</ref> The initial planned capital expenditure was up to [[Pound sterling|£]]250m ([[United States dollar|$]]436m) per year. After Tesco CEO [[Terry Leahy]] announced serious resources had been committed to developing a format that would be popular with American consumers, investors responded with some skepticism with a small drop in the company's share price.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4695890.stm| work=BBC News | title=Tesco plans foray into US market|date=February 9, 2006| accessdate=January 16, 2010}}</ref> The markets were expected to be around {{convert|1400|m2}}—good-sized supermarkets in many countries, but about one-third the size of an average supermarket within the US.<ref>''Britain's Tesco to Open Its First U.S. Stores in Southland'', ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' May 20, 2006. [http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tesco20may20,1,4395438.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true]</ref> By January 2007, Tesco opened its U.S. headquarters in [[El Segundo, California]],<ref name="elsegundo.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsegundo.net/upscale-british-retailer-moving-into-south-bay-12-09-2006.html|title= Upscale British retailer moving into South Bay, retrieved July 20, 2007}}</ref> near [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. The company initially expanded into [[Southern California]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]], and [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="tesco">{{cite news|url=http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/12/10/daily20.html?jst=b_ln_hl|title= Tesco signs deal for Fresh & Easy store in Bayview | first=J.K. |last=Dineen|newspaper=[[San Francisco Business Times]], December 11, 2007, accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref>


On April 21, 2009 Tesco reported a trading loss of £142m from Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/markets/article.html?in_article_id=482959&in_page_id=3 |title=£3bn Tesco faces growing losses from US Fresh 'n' Easy stores |publisher=Thisismoney.co.uk|accessdate=September 9, 2012}}</ref> On October 4, 2010 Fresh & Easy announced that it was temporarily closing 13 stores because of shrinking populations, high percentage of housing foreclosures and high unemployment rates. The stores were being [[wikt:mothball#Verb|mothballed]], with hope of reopening them when the economy improves. Six of the stores were in the Las Vegas area, six in the Phoenix area and one in [[Moreno Valley]]. Most of the closures were "C-level stores," or those doing less than $50,000 USD in weekly sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://supermarketnews.com/retail_financial/tesco_close_1005/?cid=updZ|title= 13 Fresh & Easy Stores to Close|publisher=Supermarketnews.com|accessdate=September 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/fresh---easy-to-close-six-stores-in-las-vegas-104732049.html|title= Fresh & Easy to close six stores in Las Vegas|publisher=Lvrj.com}}</ref> The business was not expected to break even until 2012-13.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/25/tesco-sir-terry-leahy-retires | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Zoe | last=Wood | title=How Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy changed the way Britain shops | date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> In the Strategic Review announcement in December 2012, research was showing that the company was not going to make a profit until the end of 2013 or even 2014. An article in the [[Los Angeles Times]] estimated that the chain has experienced "about $1 billion in cumulative annual losses" prior to 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fresh-easy-woes-20130321,0,197757.story|title= Five years in, Fresh & Easy markets are a flop | first=Shan |last=Li|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]], March 21, 2013, accessdate=2013-3-22|date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>
On April 21, 2009 Tesco reported a trading loss of £142m from Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/markets/article.html?in_article_id=482959&in_page_id=3 |title=£3bn Tesco faces growing losses from US Fresh 'n' Easy stores |publisher=Thisismoney.co.uk|accessdate=September 9, 2012}}</ref> On October 4, 2010 Fresh & Easy announced that it was temporarily closing 13 stores because of shrinking populations, high percentage of housing foreclosures and high unemployment rates. The stores were being [[wikt:mothball#Verb|mothballed]], with hope of reopening them when the economy improves. Six of the stores were in the Las Vegas area, six in the Phoenix area and one in [[Moreno Valley]]. Most of the closures were "C-level stores," or those doing less than $50,000 USD in weekly sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://supermarketnews.com/retail_financial/tesco_close_1005/?cid=updZ|title= 13 Fresh & Easy Stores to Close|publisher=Supermarketnews.com|accessdate=September 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/fresh---easy-to-close-six-stores-in-las-vegas-104732049.html|title= Fresh & Easy to close six stores in Las Vegas|publisher=Lvrj.com}}</ref> The business was not expected to break even until 2012&ndash;13.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/25/tesco-sir-terry-leahy-retires | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Zoe | last=Wood | title=How Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy changed the way Britain shops | date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> In the Strategic Review announcement in December 2012, research was showing that the company was not going to make a profit until the end of 2013 or even 2014. An article in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' estimated that the chain has experienced "about $1 billion in cumulative annual losses" prior to 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fresh-easy-woes-20130321,0,197757.story|title= Five years in, Fresh & Easy markets are a flop | first=Shan |last=Li|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]], March 21, 2013, accessdate=2013-3-22|date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>


In February 2013 it was reported that despite rumors, Tesco would not be selling or closing the chain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/No-closure-plans-Fresh--Easy-says-189715161.html|title=No closure plans, Fresh & Easy says|date=02/04/2013|author=Mike Hornick|work=The Packer}}</ref> This "rumor" was based on the fact that Tesco Chief Executive Philip Clarke announced to shareholders that Tesco would close or sell Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web|author=&nbsp;&nbsp; |url=http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/business&id=8906939 |title=Fresh and Easy may close U.S. stores &#124; abc30.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=December 6, 2012 |accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref>
In February 2013 it was reported that despite rumors, Tesco would not be selling or closing the chain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/No-closure-plans-Fresh--Easy-says-189715161.html|title=No closure plans, Fresh & Easy says|date=02/04/2013|author=Mike Hornick|work=The Packer}}</ref> This "rumor" was based on the fact that Tesco Chief Executive Philip Clarke announced to shareholders that Tesco would close or sell Fresh & Easy.<ref>{{cite web|author=&nbsp;&nbsp; |url=http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/business&id=8906939 |title=Fresh and Easy may close U.S. stores &#124; abc30.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=December 6, 2012 |accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 02:55, 30 May 2015

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetailing
Founded2007
HeadquartersEl Segundo, California
Number of locations
160 stores
Area served
Western United States
Key people
Jim Keys CEO
ProductsGroceries
General Merchandise
Revenue$630 million
Number of employees
over 5,000
ParentYucaipa Companies
Websitewww.freshandeasy.com

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is a chain of grocery stores in the western United States, headquartered in El Segundo, California.[1] Since November 2013 it is owned by Yucaipa Companies.[2] It was a subsidiary of Tesco, the world's third largest retailer, based in the United Kingdom.[3] It had plans for rapid growth – the first stores opened in November 2007 and, after a pause in the second quarter of 2008, the opening program recommenced. While there were over 200 stores in Arizona, California, and Nevada by December 2012, Tesco confirmed in April 2013 that it was pulling out of the US market, at a reported cost of £1.2 billion.[4] On September 10, 2013, Tesco announced they were transferring ownership and operations of more than 150 stores to supermarket-owner Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Companies group.[5] Despite the sale of the stores, there will be a continued friends card program (www.freshandeasy.com/friends). Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court at the beginning of October 2013.[6] The sale will cost Tesco £150m, taking the total cost of its failed US venture to nearly £2bn.[7]

History

On February 9, 2006, Tesco announced that it planned to move into the United States by opening a chain of small format grocery stores in the Western states (Arizona, California and Nevada) in 2007 named Fresh & Easy.[8] The initial planned capital expenditure was up to £250m ($436m) per year. After Tesco CEO Terry Leahy announced serious resources had been committed to developing a format that would be popular with American consumers, investors responded with some skepticism with a small drop in the company's share price.[9] The markets were expected to be around 1,400 square metres (15,000 sq ft)—good-sized supermarkets in many countries, but about one-third the size of an average supermarket within the US.[10] By January 2007, Tesco opened its U.S. headquarters in El Segundo, California,[11] near Los Angeles International Airport. The company initially expanded into Southern California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada.[12]

On April 21, 2009 Tesco reported a trading loss of £142m from Fresh & Easy.[13] On October 4, 2010 Fresh & Easy announced that it was temporarily closing 13 stores because of shrinking populations, high percentage of housing foreclosures and high unemployment rates. The stores were being mothballed, with hope of reopening them when the economy improves. Six of the stores were in the Las Vegas area, six in the Phoenix area and one in Moreno Valley. Most of the closures were "C-level stores," or those doing less than $50,000 USD in weekly sales.[14][15] The business was not expected to break even until 2012–13.[16] In the Strategic Review announcement in December 2012, research was showing that the company was not going to make a profit until the end of 2013 or even 2014. An article in the Los Angeles Times estimated that the chain has experienced "about $1 billion in cumulative annual losses" prior to 2013.[17]

In February 2013 it was reported that despite rumors, Tesco would not be selling or closing the chain.[18] This "rumor" was based on the fact that Tesco Chief Executive Philip Clarke announced to shareholders that Tesco would close or sell Fresh & Easy.[19]

Tesco announced the sale of the chain on September 10, 2013 to Yucaipa Companies LLC.[20] In fact, Tesco was not so much selling the chain as "essentially paying Mr. Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. to take on [Fresh & Easy's] liabilities" at a cost to Tesco of £150 million (approximately $235 million), while also providing the transferred chain with an £80 million loan.[21] On November 27, 2013, the sale to Yucaipa Companies was completed.[2] Yucaipa acquired 167 Fresh & Easy stores and closed approximately 40 of them.[22]

In a statement delivered shortly after the news was released, Burkle confirmed there would be changes to the stores' format, "to complete Tesco’s vision ... [and] make it even more relevant to today’s consumer."[23] In June 2014, Fresh & Easy initiated a reintroduction campaign, emphasizing "affordable organics," made-on-the-premises takeout, freshness, and the avoidance of artificial colors and flavors.[22]

In its e-mail announcing the sale, Fresh & Easy said that customers would need to re-enroll in the Fresh & Easy Friends Card Loyalty program because "California state law does not allow the transfer of personal information of Friends Rewards members to the new buyer of Fresh & Easy"; after re-enrolling, "existing points and rewards balance will be honored."[24]

Management

Timothy John Rollit Mason is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh & Easy.[25] He joined Tesco in 1982 and became a member of the Board in 1995.[26] Mason relocated to the U.S. with his family as part of the assignment of building the U.S. presence. He led the team researching the U.S. market prior to the company opening its first American store. In March 2011, Mason took on new roles as deputy chief executive and chief marketing officer within Tesco, and now spends about a third of his time outside of the US.[27]

It was reported in December 2012 that Tim Mason had resigned from Tesco.[28] He got a large bonus check when he resigned, totalling around £5.7 million.[29] Some criticized the company for giving him such a big payout despite the US stores not turning a profit.[29]

Stores

Fresh & Easy market in Las Vegas, Nevada

Fresh & Easy announced in October 2007 that the first California and Arizona stores would open November 8.[30] However on November 1, 2007, Fresh & Easy opened its first store, in Hemet, California, as a "soft opening". (Soft openings are traditionally done in the retail business to test systems and store staff, and prepare for a larger "grand opening.") The Hemet store, near the company's distribution center, along with five others in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, then had their "grand opening" on November 8, 2007.[31]

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market employs 20 to 30 associates per store. Part-time employees are paid a starting hourly wage of $10 USD per hour. Those store employees who work at least 20 hours per week get a health insurance plan, which they also contribute to. Assistant managers, called Team Leaders, currently are paid $13 hour (California). In Arizona, each of these positions pay US$1 per hour less. From April until the end of June 2008, Fresh & Easy took a pause from opening any new stores. That hiatus was lifted with the July 2, 2008 opening of a store in Manhattan Beach, California. As of October 5, 2011, there were 182 stores in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

Parking spaces reserved for hybrid cars at Clovis, California store.
California

On September 8, 2010, Fresh & Easy opened 4 new stores in California, marking the 100th store for the state.[32] By August 2011, with the first Northern California stores open, there were 128 stores operating in California.

Arizona

In July 2007, Tesco announced plans for several Arizona[33] stores. The first Mesa, Arizona, store opened December 5, 2007.[34] There were (as of August 2011) 28 locations in operation in the greater Phoenix area.

Nevada

The first five Nevada stores opened in the Las Vegas Valley area November 11, 2007.[35] There were 21 stores in operation in and around Las Vegas in August 2011.[36] Many stores were opened in the locations of former Rite-Aid Pharmacies.

Distribution centres

Tesco purchased a 130,000 square meters (1,400,000 sq ft) distribution centre in unincorporated Riverside County, immediately adjacent to the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley on land that was part of the former March Air Reserve Base.[37] The company was looking for another distribution centre location in Stockton, strategic for the Northern California region,[38] and has considered another distribution centre in Phoenix.

Environmental goals

Fresh & Easy states it has made a commitment to building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified buildings. It will recycle or reuse shipping and display products. Its food transportation trailers are hybrid electric-diesel.[39] The company contracted for the installation of a rooftop solar power system for its Riverside distribution center, capable of generating 2.6 million kilowatt hours per year — enough to supply a fifth of the depot's power needs and prevent the emission of 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide pollution per year; the contractor believed that it would be the largest such system in the world at the time.[40] Stores are equipped with LED lights in freezers, coolers and for outdoor signage.[41] Some stores have reserved parking for hybrid cars.[42]

On September 8, 2010, Fresh & Easy opened its first store to be GreenChill certified (Rosemead store). Fewer than 40 of all grocery stores in the USA are GreenChill certified.[32]

References

  1. ^ "FreshandEasy.com Terms & Conditions." Fresh & Easy. Retrieved on July 15, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Tesco completes sale of US business Fresh & Easy to investment firm Yucaipa". Retail Week. November 27, 2013.
  3. ^ Denise Winterman (September 9, 2013). "How one supermarket came to dominate". BBC. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  4. ^ "Tesco profits fall as supermarket pulls out of US". BBC. April 17, 2013.
  5. ^ Pfeifer, Stuart (September 10, 2013). "Ron Burkle's Yucaipa buying Fresh & Easy stores from Tesco". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (September 30, 2013). "Tesco's Fresh & Easy declares bankruptcy to ease sale to Burkle". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ Sarah Butler. "Tesco puts US chain Fresh & Easy into bankruptcy | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Tesco to enter United States". Retrieved March 13, 2006.
  9. ^ Staff writers (February 9, 2006). "Tesco plans foray into US market". BBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  10. ^ Britain's Tesco to Open Its First U.S. Stores in Southland, Los Angeles Times May 20, 2006. [1]
  11. ^ "Upscale British retailer moving into South Bay, retrieved July 20, 2007".
  12. ^ Dineen, J.K. "Tesco signs deal for Fresh & Easy store in Bayview". San Francisco Business Times, December 11, 2007, accessdate=2008-06-28. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |newspaper= (help)
  13. ^ "£3bn Tesco faces growing losses from US Fresh 'n' Easy stores". Thisismoney.co.uk. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. ^ "13 Fresh & Easy Stores to Close". Supermarketnews.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  15. ^ "Fresh & Easy to close six stores in Las Vegas". Lvrj.com.
  16. ^ Wood, Zoe (February 25, 2011). "How Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy changed the way Britain shops". The Guardian. London.
  17. ^ Li, Shan (March 21, 2013). "Five years in, Fresh & Easy markets are a flop". Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2013, accessdate=2013-3-22. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |newspaper= (help)
  18. ^ Mike Hornick (02/04/2013). "No closure plans, Fresh & Easy says". The Packer. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^    (December 6, 2012). "Fresh and Easy may close U.S. stores | abc30.com". Abclocal.go.com. Retrieved May 8, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  20. ^ Author: Kathleen (September 10, 2013). "Fresh & Easy Acquired by The Yucaipa Companies LLC | Fresh & Easy". Freshandeasy.com. Retrieved May 8, 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ Gordon, Kathy (September 10, 2013). "Yucaipa to Take Tesco's U.S. Unit Off Its Hands". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  22. ^ a b Ross, Andrew S (June 21, 2014). "Fresh & Easy introduces redesigned markets". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  23. ^ "Tesco to Sell Fresh & Easy to Burkle's Yucaipa in U.S. Exit". Bloomberg.
  24. ^ "faq | Fresh & Easy". Freshandeasy.com. September 10, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  25. ^ "EXECUTIVE PROFILE* Tim J. R. Mason". businessweek.com. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  26. ^ "Board of directors". tescocorporate.com. Retrieved December 3, 2007.[dead link]
  27. ^ "Financial Times report, July 19, 2011". Ft.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  28. ^ "Tesco's Tim Mason to receive £5.7m following resignation". Retrieved December 11, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ a b Simon Neville. "Tesco's Tim Mason to receive £5.7m following resignation | Business". theguardian.com. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  30. ^ Cathryn Creno (October 12, 2007). "British grocer Tesco will open first U.S. stores soon in Calif., Ariz". azcentral.com. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  31. ^ First Fresh & Easy Grocery Store Trades post bankruptcy
  32. ^ a b "Fresh & Easy Opens First Store With CO2 Refrigeration System in Southern California". Reuters. September 8, 2010.
  33. ^ "Arizona Republic, July 20, 2007". Azcentral.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  34. ^ "The fresh&easy Neighborhood Market". newszap.com. December 2, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2007. [dead link]
  35. ^ Zoe Wood (November 11, 2007). "Tesco has a flutter in Vegas". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  36. ^ "Stores – Fresh & Easy". Freshandeasy.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  37. ^ "I-215 LAND DEAL: Great Britain's largest grocery chain buys 88.4 acres (358,000 m2) in an Inland business park". Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  38. ^ Josh Fineman (December 4, 2007). "Tesco Is a `Manageable Threat' to Safeway in U.S. (Update2)". bloomberg.com. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  39. ^ "Transicold Newsletter" (PDF). Penndda.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  40. ^ Walsh, Fiona (January 19, 2007). "Tesco makes the most of the Sunshine State". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  41. ^ "Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Keeps it Simple and Keeps Prices Low". PR Newswire. November 1, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  42. ^ Wonnacott, Brendan (April 8, 2008). "FRESH & EASY TO GIVE AWAY FREE "BAG FOR LIFE" FOR EARTH DAY" (PDF). Fresh & Easy. Retrieved January 26, 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fresh_%26_Easy&oldid=664654692"