EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Tesco is not yet ready to disclose a timetable for expanding operations of its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market into Northern California, the company told SN last week, although it is also close to completing a distribution center in Stockton to serve the region.
A spokesman said the chain has secured 37 sites for stores in Northern California — 19 in Sacramento and 18 in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, he declined to say when the company might begin opening those locations. In late January, the company said the earliest date for entry there would be late in the second half of 2009, but a chain spokesman declined to indicate last week if that timetable is still in place.
The company operates 125 Fresh & Easy stores in Southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix, with four more locations due to open in Southern California this month.
A spokesman said the company does not disclose plans for store openings more than a month in advance.
Though there are 37 Northern California sites designated, “with more than that in the pipeline,” he declined to say how many are leased and how many the company owns.