Four Fresh & Easy stores in San Diego County have closed as the grocery chain revamps its business model.
The four local stores are among 50 nationwide that are shuttering, so that the company can invest in a different approach to fresh convenience stores.
The locations include the store at Third and J street in Chula Vista; College Boulevard and Oceanside Boulevard in Oceanside; Campo and Kenwood in Casa De Oro; and Winter Gardens and Woodside in Lakeside.
The closures follow news two weeks ago that dozens of Los Angeles stores were closing their doors.
Southern California-based The Yucaipa Cos. bought the chain out of bankruptcy in 2013 from British retailer Tesco. Since that time, the company gradually changed the stores' look and introduced a new "click and collect" service in Las Vegas that allows shoppers to buy online and pick up the purchased items at the store.
“The company is now in a better position to rationalize its store base and divest locations that do not meet the criteria of Fresh & Easy’s model of modern convenience,” a statement from the company read. “This move allows the company to redeploy capital into development and growth, including a 3,000 to 5,000 square foot store to provide a higher level of convenience and greater density.”
