Fresh & Easy

This is a new grocery store that's migrated up from the L.A. area. My new manager raves about it and he can't wait for the one next to the A St. Target to be built. They offer quick, fresh, packaged food. I went to the one that just opened on Santa Rita Road yesterday. It was OK. The prices are better at Trader Joe's for carrots and you can pick your produce a little more there. At F&E, most of the food is packed and bagged. There is no deli, meat, or bakery counters. Everything is processed at their main facility in Riverside. They have a very good selection of rice and grains, though, and all in one pound bags for around $3. Well, compared to Safeway and Trader Joe's, it's a good variety. Plus, the smaller bags are more do-able for me than getting a giant bag from Ranch 99. If there isn't a sale at a bigger chain, then the tomato sauce and paste is cheap (under $.50/can). I purchased a bag of F&E "cheetos" and I like them. They also have a good selection of nuts. In fact, the snack food and pre-packaged sandwiches and salads will be a great thing to have next to work. Target's prepared sandwiches and salads are pricy and not too great. So, this store is a hit-n-miss, depending on what you want from this store. Oh, and this may be of some concern to people. As I walked into the store, there were the flyers with prices and a different flyer with "Sorry for any inconvenience union protesters may have caused you" as the title. HUH?? I read it, and they're non-union. UFCW isn't too happy about that, but as long as F&E continues to give their employees competitive wages and benefits, I don't think that there will be too much of a problem. Heck, there weren't any protesters outside the store when I went. The back side of the flyer promotes the great company that is F&E and how they promote good employees and give back to the local community.