Fresh & Easy confirmed Monday it is closing two stores in Las Vegas as the grocery chain pursues a new business model. Overall, Fresh & Easy is closing 50 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada.
The Las Vegas area stores planning to be sold or closed are located at Tropicana and Jones and Centennial and Simmons, the company told KNPR's State of Nevada in an email.
"Fresh & Easy has spent much of the past year and a half since trasnitioning to new ownership transforming into a new business focused on delivering a new vision of modern convenience," the company said in a statement. "This transformation was always going to be a challenge but the company has acoompished several major initiatives including a massive rennovation project and relaunch in Las Vegas, which will serve a test for wider rollout."
Fresh & Easy earlier this month rolled out a "click and collect" service in Las Vegas that allows shoppers to buy online and pick up the purchased items at the store.
Fresh & Easy said the service will serve as a test for a wider rollout.
The company said Sunday that by selling the stores, it can invest in new fresh food convenience stores.
"This move allows the company to redeploy capital into develpment and growth, including a 3,000 to 5,000-square-foot store to provide a higher level of convenience and greater density," the gorcery chain said.
Fresh & Easy is also working with ADMI, the firs behind the design of the Apple Storem to design new Fresh & Easy locations.
Los Angeles-based The Yucaipa Cos. bought the chain out of bankruptcy in 2013 from British retailer Tesco.
The Associated Press contributed to the report