Fresh & Easy ‘Plainer’ Than Expected: Noddle

NEW YORK — In a presentation to investors at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference here this week, Jeff Noddle, chairman and chief executive officer, Supervalu, Minneapolis, said executives from Supervalu found Tesco’s new Fresh & Easy stores in Southern California “a little plainer than we anticipated,” although he said the pricing appeared competitive. He also said Supervalu had expected more prepared-foods offerings, and he still anticipates considerable innovation from the company in that area. He also questioned the self-checkout aspect of the stores, noting that most customers still feel uncomfortable using such devices.

Read More of Today's Headlines