Fresh & Easy Express Arrives in Orange County, Calif.

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market will open the first of three Orange County, Calif., Fresh & Easy Express locations tomorrow. The 3,000-square-foot Laguna Niguel store offers approximately 2,700 grocery items, as well as a self-serve espresso bar, the Orange County Register reported.

"It is really the best of Fresh & Easy," said company spokesman Brendan Wonnacott.

The chain is currently testing the Fresh & Easy Express format at three Los Angeles County locations. Two more Orange County Express stores in Seal Beach and Garden Grove are scheduled to open later this month.

Tomorrow’s opening occurs nearly simultaneously with the temporary closing of 12 underperforming standard-size Fresh & Easy stores, two of which operated in Orange County. Today is the last day of business for stores in Anaheim and Fountain Valley, according to the Register.

Despite the store closings, the chain is staying optimistic. Executives at parent company Tesco plc have said they expect Fresh & Easy to break even by 2013.