Fresh & Easy Closing 50 Units

Regional retail grocery chain Fresh & Easy (El Segundo, Calif.) will close 50 of its 167 units in California, Nevada and Arizona by early April. The stores targeted to close include those that are underperforming or fall outside the size parameters for the chain’s new concept of smaller (3,000 to 5,000-square-foot vs. 10,000 to 12,000-square-foot) stores.

Though the company has not released specific details about the new store format, a Fresh & Easy spokesperson told Supermarket News that the new concept will be a “unique fresh-food convenience store.” Recently remodeled Las Vegas units are said to feature some of the elements of the new prototype, including a more open design and lower fixtures. The new concepts will also feature a broader produce assortment; a hot food bar with made-to-order sandwiches, oven-fired pizzas and hot soups; a coffee, espresso and tea bar; a self-service beverage bar with a smoothie machine; a homeopathic and natural-remedies section; and a natural baby products section.