Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market opened its doors in Seal Beach last Wednesday, Feb. 29, amid a bit of fanfare and excitement.
A few curious residents of the city’s Old Town neighborhood descended on the store as it opened its doors at 8 a.m. By 11 a.m. the store had drawn a crowd for its grand opening celebration in which $1,000 was donated to the Seal Beach Animal Care Center.
“We’d like to thank Fresh & Easy for their generous donation and recognition of our contribution to the community,” said Dee Carey, a member of the Care Center’s board of directors. “On behalf of the Seal Beach Animal Care Center, we would like to welcome Fresh & Easy to the neighborhood.”
The Seal Beach Animal Care Center was selected by the store staff from neighborhood nominations made through Fresh & Easy’s website (www.freshandeasy.com/goodneighbor).
The celebration was not without some wrinkles. A handful of protestors from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union were busy pacing outside the store’s front doors, handing out flyers and carrying signs, complaining about the corporate practices of the company that is headquartered in the United Kingdom.
“They are from Brittan so they think they can break the law here,” said protestor Amber Quinones, from Glendora.
The protestors and their literature said Fresh & Easy has gone out of its way to squash any attempts by employees to form or join a union.
“Administrative judges in two states have found that Fresh & Easy broke the law by committing unfair labor practices,” Quinones said.
Among the alleged practices, the group’s flyer said that Fresh & Easy has threatened employees for forming a union, interrogating employees about forming a union, restricting employees from communicating with each other and illegally surveilling employees.
“It’s nonsense,” said Brendan Wonnacott, Fresh and Easy spokesman. “This group has been attacking us well before our first doors were opened.”
Wonnacott said that accusations of unfair labor practices are a common tactic in corporate campaigns for unions.
Wonnacott said there was no truth in UFCW accusations of Fresh and Easy forcing employees not to unionize and/or that they had lost court battles over the issue or that it broke the law.
“We have had thousands of cases filed each year and in every instance judges have found in our favor,” Wonnacott said. “We believe our employees have the democratic right to choose whether they want to join a union. Thus far, they haven’t.”
Despite the protests, the store’s grand opening was greeted with a welcome from the local residents and the new employees at the facility.
“We can’t believe our store is finally open! It is incredibly rewarding to see how excited everyone is in the neighborhood,” said Cynthia Martinez, store manager. “We hope everyone stops in to meet our store team and tries our great food at prices that fit any budget.” Fresh & Easy boats that “customers don’t have to compromise on the food they buy at Fresh & Easy. All Fresh & Easy own-brand products contain no added trans fats, no artificial colors or flavors and only use preservatives when absolutely necessary. In addition to fresh, high-quality prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone’s favorite national brand products and household items, all at budget prices.”
According to the company’s prepared statement, “Fresh & Easy recycles or reuses all its shipping and display materials and uses environmentally-friendly trailers to transport food.”
The company said the Seal Beach location will employ 20 to 30 people and hire staff from the local neighborhood.
“Fresh & Easy said the store will provide the opportunity for all employees to work at least 20 hours a week, which entitles them to comprehensive healthcare and competitive benefits. Entry-level positions pay well over the minimum wage, starting at $10 an hour in California, with a potential quarterly bonus of up to 10 percent.”
At roughly 3,000 square feet, the stores are smaller than the typical supermarket while carrying everything customers need to do their weekly shopping. Fresh & Easy currently has stores in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada and has secured sites in Northern California.
More information regarding Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at www.freshandeasy.com.
