Slate features a somewhat comprehensive article filling in all the details of our decades long coverage of the imminent arrival of Tesco's Fresh & Easy market to our SoCal shores. The article contrasts the Fresh & Easy versus the bully behemoth of Arkansas based Wal-Mart. Essentially, we learn that Wal-Mart appeals to price conscious square staters who love a big box, while Tesco appeals to the coastal, savvy shopper in need of convenience.
"...as it enters markets like California, Wal-Mart needs to appeal to shoppers who have more choices, and for whom convenience, status, and quality outweigh price. Again, a possible advantage to Tesco. Its convenience stores will likely resemble their American cousins in name only. Most American convenience stores are stocked with cheese-filled Oscar Mayer dogs that roll endlessly on a steel grill, Slurpees, and tons of non-biodegradable packaged foods (Hostess Snowballs, anyone?). But in the United Kingdom, Tesco's image is generally pretty upscale. Its Express stores will be the kind of places where foodies wouldn't be chagrined to run into their neighbors. Tesco says its convenience stores will stock up to 7,000 items, "including fresh produce, wines and spirits, and an in-store bakery." Today's lesson everyone: Tesco good. Wal-Mart bad.
[image of frown face from the hilarious savewalmart.com site]
· First, the Beatles. Now, Tesco. [Slate]