From in the News: Invasion or Blessing

U.K. retailer Tesco plans Inland invasion

10:09 AM PDT on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
pe.com

http://www.pe.com/localnews/coronaarea/business/PE_Biz_D_tesco26.311a11d.html

By LOU HIRSH
The Press-Enterprise

Map: Tesco's Inland locations

RIVERSIDE - British retailer Tesco rolled out plans Tuesday to open 48 Inland locations of its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores by the end of 2009.

Its first two Inland stores are slated to open by year's end in Hemet and Upland, said Tim Mason, CEO of Tesco's U.S. operations. Another 17 Inland locations will open in 2008, followed by 29 in 2009.

Thirty-three Inland cities are slated to get a Fresh & Easy -- 20 in Riverside County and 13 in San Bernardino County -- with multiple locations slated for cities including Riverside, Moreno Valley, Murrieta and Rialto. Many of those are already under construction or in development, while some sites are still being negotiated.

A Las Vegas storefront is a typical Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. A complete products list is not available, but generally they will include ready-to-eat fresh and prepared foods, with organic offerings, as well as products geared toward Latinos.

At a morning gathering at the Mission Inn hosted by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Mason said that by the time the stores open, the company will employ about 1,500 at its Inland stores and another 1,500 at its distribution center nearing completion off Interstate 215 near Riverside.

Mason said Tesco's key goal has been reaching "under served" areas in all types of neighborhoods, regardless of demographics. "Tesco hasn't grown big in this business by being a niche (retailer)," Mason said. "Our success is in serving everybody."

The Inland stores are among the first wave of more than 300 that Tesco plans to open in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, as the global grocery giant makes its first foray into the U.S. market.

Mason said the company during the past few years did extensive household research before deciding to open stores in America.

"We went into homes and asked people what foods they liked and looked at what they had in their pantries," Mason said.

Tesco's new markets will debut in every demographic, Tim Mason said. "Our success is in serving everybody," he says.

Tesco has not released a complete product list, but the stores, on average about 10,000 square feet, will feature ready-to-eat fresh and prepared foods, with several organic and private-label offerings, as well as products geared toward Latino consumers. The goal is to allow busy customers to get in and out quickly, Mason said.

John Burry, chief commercial officer for Fresh & Easy, said many of those foods, such as juices and cooked meals, will be prepared at a 90,000-square-foot kitchen being completed adjacent to its distribution center at the Meridian business park.

Tesco has suppliers, such as Wild Rocket Foods, that are also in the Riverside area, and the company will make use of locally grown produce when possible, Burry said.

The company began recruiting employees last week in Hemet. The distribution center, which is set to open before year's end, will serve all of its Southern California stores. Tesco spokesman Simon Uwins said some employees have begun working at completed portions of the distribution center in anticipation of the store openings.

Mason said workers at the Fresh & Easy stores will make at least $10 per hour, and the company will make provisions for flexible scheduling. Those who work at least 20 hours weekly will receive health care coverage and will be eligible for a 401(k) and other benefits.

Mason reiterated the company's goal to be a "good neighbor" and environmental steward, pointing to its use of a rooftop solar-panel system on its distribution center and a packaging recycling program that will be based there. The company also recently introduced energy-efficient delivery trucks that will have to follow curfews during certain times to avoid making noise or disturbing neighborhoods.

Gramps Writes:

To title this an "Invasion" is a stretch and perhaps only thought of in those terms by people like Jack Brown. We must remember that much of our Capital Resources are actually still owned by England, or British Banking Interests. Let us not get in to the who really owns Wall Mart. Look where the products come from as a hint.

I welcome the Use of the Soon to be Abandoned Site of the Current Stater's Store in GT to a TESCO that promises to have an eye to the "Mexican Market" and more fresh fruits and vegetables that provided by Stater's. Local Produce, well the City Council has done its best to end all Farming in Grand Terrace, but we'll see how local, local can be. There are still farms in Redlands, Loma Linda, and Riverside.

I would not like to see a NEW 3rd Site Developed for a Grocery Store. I hope TESCO has leased the soon to be Vacant Stater Brother's Store. The City should expidite any building permits to make the transition move along quickly. Pre-Existing Development should have Priority for Redevelopment and Permits, and failure to provide this Priority can cost the Redevelopment Agency and City, significant settlement costs. Pre-Existing Businesses hurt by Redevlopment Agency Actions can ask to be compensated for business and income lost. This is provided by law so that Existing Businesses are not put at a disadvantage in the free market we are supposed to have in this country.


This sounds like an Improvement of the Offerings provided at Stater Brother’s Market. When was the last time LOCAL PRODUCE was provided a place on Jack’s Shelf? As a matter of fact if you don’t have a BULK ITEM farmed by a MEGA Farm you won’t see shelf space in a Stater Brother’s Market.

Let us hope TESCO provides GT with a better selection of WHOLE FRESH FOODS and Better Options in the Ready to Eat, and Packaged Food Items that what we find flooding Stater Brother’s Shelves of Late.

Let us Hope that TESCO moves into the Current Stater Brother’s Market Space Prior to the building of the MEGA STATER'S with its larger Liquor Section and Fry Kitchen is built and develops additional addictions and easy access to quench those addictions.

I will shop in GT again if a Non Stater’s comes into town. Until then, I shop for groceries out of town.

Let Us also hope that the TESCO Store will incorporate Green Technology, PV Solar Cells to power some if not all of the store, including possibly putting in PV Solar Cells in the Parking Lot on top of attractive structures of some sort which would provide shade for Parked cars, and Energy for the store.

IF you are interested in a Job with TESCO the Jobs are Posted on their Website Below or go to a Job Fair:

October 16, 2007 Riverside, CA EVENT: Riverside Careerbuilder Job Fair
TIME: 10:00AM – 3:00PM
LOCATION: Riverside Convention Center, Ben H Lewis Hall
ADDRESS: 3443 Orange Street
Riverside, CA
92501

December 6, 2007 Ontario, CA EVENT: Inland Empire Hirequest Job Fair
TIME: 9:00AM – 12:30PM
LOCATION: Ontario Convention Center
ADDRESS: 1201 S. Figueroa Street
Ontario, CA
91764

http://www.freshandeasy.com/home.aspx

The map link below just shows the intersection of Barton Rd and Mt. Vernon Ave. Grand Terrace as being the "location".

http://maps.yourgmap.com/v/q_ro_Tesco_ss_Inland_locations.html