LAist: Fresh & Easy Markets in SoCal: Unknown & Hard?

jjessie0526

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:26:14 -0800

Hi, I am a sutdent studying MSC Marketing at University of Birmingham(England). Now I am working on my dissertation which is about Fresh&Easy in America. Hope you can help me to do the questionnaire, please. Here is the link to the questionnaire which will only be used as an academic research. http://www.my3q.com/home2/234/jjessie0526/68302.phtml Thank you very very much for your kindness!! Jessie

jjessie0526

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:35:16 -0800

Hi, I am a sutdent studying MSC Marketing at University of Birmingham(England). Now I am working on my dissertation which is about Fresh&Easy's entry into America. Hope you can help me to do the questionnaire, please. Here is the link to the questionnaire which will only be used as an academic research. http://www.my3q.com/home2/234/jjessie0526/68302.phtml Thank you very very much for your kindness!! Jessie

Ross A. Lincoln

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:18:06 -0800

I'm particularly uncomfortable with the increasing trend towards retailers without employees. Wal Mart's been slowly introducing that kind of sleaze into the mid west so it's no surprise to me that Wal Mart UK edition does the same thing. People, you're also forgetting how entirely shitty Trader Joe's parking lots are. They seem designed to create logjams and confusion.

Tom Andrews

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:20:08 -0800

I shop at the Hollywood Blvd location and I'm NOT impressed with their merchandise. The store feels like a 99 cent store to me, bad lighting and a lack of healthy choices. The pre-packaged products are incredibly bad for you, check out the sodium on ANY of their packaged items. I wouldn't care if the store closed tomorrow.

Lindsay William-Ross

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:20:15 -0800

Emoney, I'd love to have seen what Ralphs sent you! What an interesting business tactic... One thing, though, about the issue of "organic" and labeling and regulations: There aren't actually any real rules or standards that apply. What someone calls organic might not be to someone else; it's not standardized, regulated, or enforced. So Ralphs may well be capitalizing on the public's desire to have "real organic" food, when, really, anyone with a label-maker can call something "organic" in the first place. It's been really interesting seeing everyone's input on F&E markets. I think I would go to one if one was more convenient to me, but still find myself going here and there between WF, TJ, Vons, How's, and farmers' markets (when possible).

clvngodess

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:48:28 -0800

yeah, I was excited by the prospect of the Glassell Park store, but after a few visits, I'm not so thrilled. It's not so easy if you need to really shop for a lot of items. It's just okay for convenience plus, as I'd call it. Food isn't so fresh and the help isn't so helpful. It's an okay business model. But that's about it. I think I'll stick to Traitor Joes or Vons. I'm boycotting Whole Foods since their nasty take over of Wild Oats....

Emoney

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:58:36 -0800

A Fresh & Easy just opened next to where I live in Hollywood. I used to stop in several times a week while walking home from work and really loved the store. I recently received a notice in the mail from Ralph's grocery store listing several unnerving 'facts' about the quality of Fresh & Easy meat and produce. I'm vegetarian, but there were several things that made my stomach turn. It basically said to boycott the Tesco chain because they have received several citations in the past for altering their expiration dates and incorrectly labeling food 'Organic.' I haven't shopped there since, but because the location is so convenient for me - I may start buying only name brand products.

kelvlam

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:51:18 -0800

I've seen a Fresh & Easy banner on the new plaza they are trying to build out around my home, at intersection of Grand/Valley in Walnut. I have the same guess... I thought they were like Whole Food, organic buzz kinda shop. I wonder if they'll survive... Vons, Albertsons, Stater Bros are all around in Walnut

FreshNEasyBuzz

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:26:19 -0800

We publish and independent blog called Fresh & Easy Buzz. www.freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com The blog covers everything anout Tesco and its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market small-format grocery stores. Rather then comment here, as it would be long, on Fresh & Easy, I suggest you take a look at the blog. There's lots of analysis, inside stories, and various pieces about the stores current sales, problems and the like on the blog. There's also suggestions from grocery retail vets about what Tesco can do to imporove the stores. I will make a couple specif comments here later--but wanted to let you folks know about the blog after I read your post.

silentstorm

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:14:51 -0800

I can only echo what's been said above. Definitely a middle ground...no lines like Trader Joes, good selection, decent prices. I just wish there was one closer to west la..I think the hollywood one is the closest, but that's farrrr.

Zach Behrens

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:06:36 -0800

Bernie Spear

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:57:30 -0800

Seriously, that is the great thing about it. You can get in and out of there so quick. Unlike ANY TJ's where the parking lot is as big as my driveway and the lines are always packed. Whatever, everyone don't go, more room for us!

Markland

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:54:39 -0800

F&E is largely overrated. I like my new local store mainly because its usually empty, and its within a quick walk. But the selection is incredibly sparse. Which isn't to say they don't have some good stuff at decent prices... but unless they plan to expand their shelves I'll be spending most of my grocery money at Ralphs and TJs.

peteroriondavis

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:32:50 -0800

I like Fresh and Easy so much better than Trader Joes or Whole Foods. They have a great selection of fresh produce and meat at much cheaper prices, yet I can still get a 12-pack of coke instead of having to settle on pomegranate and prune spritzer (or any of the other ridiculous and expensive specialty items available at TJs and WF that I'm not really looking to buy). I also use the Glassell Park store, and I'm generally in and out of there in less than two minutes. In fact, I think I'm gonna go there right now! Mwaha.

danwuh

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:25:32 -0800

Frankly the thought of purchasing anything from Tesco and its subsiduaries makes me shiver in repulsion. In much the same way as certain vendors have here in the US, Tesco pretty much single handedly destroyed whole swathes of British culture by putting entire towns out of business with its "hypermarkets". Ive not shopped at Fresh & Easy, nor have I seen one but the thought of supporting Tesco and their none stop destruction of food and beverage manufacturers across the globe makes we want jack it in and shop at Walmart - you know, for the ethical fullfillment. Quality Read: Shopped - The Shocking Power Of British Supermarkets

anthonyt

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:08:06 -0800

they have more produce than trader joe's, more stuff that you could grab and eat outside the store than trader joe's, and more household stuff than trader joe's. we all love trader joe's but come on, you always have to go to the "real" grocery store on the way home to get soap and garbage bags. f&e is a middle ground. oh, also i'd rather self check out at f&e in glassel park than wait in line at trader joe's in silverlake for 20+ minutes.

yad

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:52:40 -0800

that place is rough. it has nothing on trader joes in terms of quality, price and even selection.

Bernie Spear

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:46:01 -0800

F&E is awesome. Very easy and fairly cheap I guess. I go to the Glassel Park one. In and out fast since the store is on the smaller side. You dont need to go down a million aisles. I love it.

datkidspags

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:43:46 -0800

Can't wait for the one in Van Nuys to open... ...although I have no idea what to expect!