Fresh & Easy Breaks Ground in South Los Angeles

SOUTH LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market CEO Tim Mason today joined L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry and other local dignitaries in breaking ground on a new Fresh & Easy store that is part of a mixed-use development project at 1011 East Adams Boulevard in South L.A.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714/AQM538)

Fresh & Easy currently operates 63 stores across Southern California, Nevada and Arizona, including 11 in Los Angeles County. Earlier this year, the company opened a store in the City of Compton, confirming Fresh & Easy's commitment to open in all different types of neighborhoods, including those that have been traditionally underserved. In the Compton store, over half of the top 20 products selling are fresh fruits and vegetables, several of them organic.

A recent independent study prepared for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles found residents of the Ninth City Council District spend over $400 million in annual general merchandise, groceries and restaurants outside of the district. This data supports the need for greater food access in the neighborhood, a void which Fresh & Easy will help to fill.

"Fresh & Easy is committed to serving all different types of neighborhoods. We strongly believe everyone deserves fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices, regardless of where they live," said Mason. "We are excited to open in South LA and bring local, high quality jobs to the neighborhood."

The mixed-use project at 1011 East Adams will feature 80 apartments built on three levels above 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space fronting on both streets, bringing quality family housing and retail job opportunities to this underserved community.

About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

At roughly 10,000 square feet, Fresh & Easy markets are smaller than the typical supermarket to give customers a faster, easier shopping experience. In addition to fresh, prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone's favorite national brand products and household items, all at everyday low prices.

Each store employs approximately 20 to 30 people. All Fresh & Easy employees are given the opportunity to work at least 20 hours per week, which entitles them to comprehensive and affordable healthcare. Entry-level positions start at $10 an hour in California, with similarly competitive salaries in other states, and offer a quarterly bonus of up to 10% and a 401(K) with company match. Last month, the company stated an intention to hire 750 employees over the next 90 days.

Fresh & Easy has gone to great lengths to ensure all its Fresh & Easy brand products contain no added trans fats, artificial colors or flavors, and use preservatives only when absolutely necessary. Deliveries are made daily to each store to ensure all products are as fresh as possible.

More information regarding Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at http://www.freshandeasy.com.

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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

CONTACT: Brendan Wonnacott, +1-916-554-3466, Cell, +1-310-384-3833, for
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Web site: http://www.freshandeasy.com/