L.A. Group to Demonstrate at Tesco Meeting

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

LOS ANGELES — A labor-, faith- and community-based group here said it plans to hold a rally this afternoon outside a Santa Monica hotel in which Tesco investors will be meeting. The group — the Alliance for Healthy & Responsible Grocery Stores — is trying to convince the chain to sign an agreement that it will keep its promises to open stores in underserved communities, create good jobs and be responsible environmental stewards. "We plan to create a lot of noise outside," an alliance spokesman told SN, "to let investors know we are there, and we believe their read on this issue will matter. We want them to go back to England with a clear message that if Tesco doesn't reconsider, it will face constant community resistance." He said the organization has been unable to secure a face-to-face meeting with Tesco executives, despite letters before any stores opened and a demonstration outside one of the first six Fresh & Easy stores that Tesco opened here earlier this month.

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