EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market here, the U.S.-based operation of U.K.-based Tesco, said yesterday it will now accept American Express cards at all 59 stores in response to customers’ requests. Since it began opening U.S. stores in early November, the chain has not accepted any credit cards at its checkstands, which are all self-checkouts. According to Simon Uwins, the chain’s chief merchandising officer, “We developed the Fresh & Easy concept by listening to what Americans wanted in a grocery market. Our customers asked us to accept the American Express card in our stores, and we listened.” Fresh & Easy stores are located in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. A company spokesman told SN the decision to accept Am-Ex cards did not involve Jeff Adams, the American-born Tesco executive who is scheduled to relocate here in the next few weeks to help oversee the U.S. operation.

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