10:35am Reporting by Greggory Moore | It just got that much easier to shop at Fresh & Easy in Long Beach, as on Wednesday the grocery chain tripled its citywide presence by opening stores in Downtown and Bixby Knolls.
“Fresh & Easy has been a wonderful presence in Long Beach, creating good jobs with comprehensive benefits and bringing fresh food to new neighborhoods,” a Fresh & Easy press release quotes Mayor Bob Foster as saying. “We appreciate their investment in our local communities and wish them continued success in Long Beach.”
The two new stores equate to more than 50 jobs for Long Beach residents.
“The new Downtown Fresh & Easy is creating local jobs, and increasing access to fresh and healthy food,” said Councilmember Robert Garcia. “We worked hard on getting this store, and I want to thank all the residents who helped make this happen.”
Councilmember James Johnson also expressed appreciation for the new Fresh & Easy in his 7th District. “I want to thank Fresh & Easy for being part of the continued revitalization of the Atlantic corridor,” he said. “Fresh & Easy has shown their commitment to being a good corporate citizen through programs in which they give back to the community.”
Exemplifying those programs are the $1,000 donations Fresh & Easy made to neighborhood, non-profit organizations corresponding to each store opening. For the store at 5th St. and Long Beach Blvd the recipient was the CARE Program at St. Mary Medical Center, and for the location at Atlantic Ave. and 33rd St. it was For The Child.
Fresh & Easy proudly touts the quality of its products and business practices. “fresh&easy brand products have no artificial colors or flavors, no added trans fats, no high-fructose corn syrup, and only use preservatives when absolutely necessary,” says the press release. “On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket. … Fresh & Easy uses LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases, offers customer recycling in every store and uses advanced refrigeration and freezer units to cut back on energy usage. The company also recycles or reuses all of its display packaging, sending the majority back through its distribution center.”
For more information about Fresh & Easy, visit go to www.freshandeasy.com.
Ribbon cutting ceremony with city council member Robert Garcia, store manager Shawn O’Donnell, Mayor Bob Foster and Fresh & Easy Executive and General Counsel Mary Kasper
Check presentation to CARE representative Robert K. Stohr by Mayor Bob Foster, store manager Shawn O’Donnell, and city council member Robert Garcia