Fresh & Easy’s parent company, the British-based Tesco, has announced it will “exit from the United States,” but that doesn’t mean the stores are closing.
“They don’t have any plans to close stores,” says Brendan Wonnacott, communications director for the chain, which has 13 stores in the Bay Area, including one at 1409 Bird Ave., in Willow Glen.
“They have already received bids for the business, including ones from groups wanting to purchase Fresh & Easy as an operating business,” Wonnacott adds.
“Our focus remains on our customers, and we’ve even launched a new marketing campaign.”
As word of Tesco’s announcement spread, the Willow Glen neighborhood email list was initially filled with distress over its possible closure. Then residents quickly started weighing in with what they’d like to see in its place.
Wonnacott says it’s early in the process, and he doesn’t expect a quick announcement on which buyer Tesco will select.
Tesco announced it will write off its $1.8 billion investment in Fresh & Easy, building up 200 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada employing some 5,000 people.
Analysts blame Fresh & Easy’s lack of success on the recession and competition from chains such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
Recently the Fresh & Easy in Willow Glen announced donations of $19,646 to the 15 local schools that participated in their fifth annual Shop for Schools Program.
Overall, the 2012 program gave $2.1 million to more than 2,700 schools in the three states.
