What everyone has been waiting for: Tesco’s US Roll Out Follows Two Years of Research

[txgirl75 0]

The only Tesco I could find online was this one in Topanga. Get down there and get my some pickled onion monster munch!!!

Tesco Inc

157 N Topanga Cn Blvd

Topanga, CA 90290

(310) 455-1858

[no name 1]

I figure either that or as a competitor to Whole Foods. Either way, they will probably first turn up in affluent urban areas where there is already a pretty good selection, and the choice out in the boondocks will remain rather dire.

Yeah, and Whole Foods is a complete & utter ripoff.

Wonder if Fresh & Easy will even carry UK stuff or just be like a Trader Joes with their own brand?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I like the salad bar at Whole Foods but otherwise a complete and utter rip - since the closest one is right across from the Farmer's Market I feel no need to go there anyway.

If they are launching in SoCal - all the UK stuff is pretty readily available anyway. Though I think stores in the area could generally improve their cheese and bread selection, so maybe they will fill that void!

[no name 1]

I like the salad bar at Whole Foods but otherwise a complete and utter rip - since the closest one is right across from the Farmer's Market I feel no need to go there anyway.

If they are launching in SoCal - all the UK stuff is pretty readily available anyway. Though I think stores in the area could generally improve their cheese and bread selection, so maybe they will fill that void!

J & I LOVE (good strong) cheese. So far, I usually get it at Trader Joe's.

The WHole Foods in Santa MOnica isn't closer?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

good strong cheddar is a tough one - the fresh fare at ralphs in the Marina has a pretty good selection of cheese (including a difficult-to-find-even-in-UK Windsor Red) but only average on the cheddar front

hmmm maybe - I never really drive that way though and I constantly drive past the grove

[featherB 1]

Mmmm, Windsor Red - Robinklake, you're giving me a cheese craving!

Luckily I have some Wensleydale I bought last week and that I haven't tried yet... if I ever recover from my enormous chili lunch, I will have to cut myself a chunk and see what it's like. But Windsor Red... mmm, want some of that too.

[Lou Lou 1]

I'm kind of disappointed by all this but not surprised. 60 households in America is hardly what I'd call extensive research. And if they intend to stock what those 'average' households have in their fridge, I can guarantee it's nothing I'd want to buy. Sainsbury's already had a shot at attempting to turn over Shaws here in NE but it ultimately failed and they bowed out in the end. While it did improve selection and choice, the quality was still very much questionable.

I figure if UK foods ever had a hope of flourishing over here, it would have already happened long ago. Most of what you see at your local store is there by consumer demand. People generally want cheap processed tat (well, they do at my local anyway), otherwise there is no way manufacturers would bother to make it in such quantities. But why should us expats be demanding food from home to be in the shops anyway?! As the article says ‘It is an American store designed for American consumers', so I can hardly imagine I'm gonna be able to pick up jaffa cakes there no matter how much I'd like them to be there.

If it does ever turn out to be a breakthrough, as Robin has already pointed out, it will be in more affluent areas and states where choice is already at the premium.

I'm not holding my breath and will continue to grow my own stuff and shop locally whenever I can. I pray every night for a Trader Joes to become closer to me though.

Well, as long as they add high fructose corn syrup to all of their products I'm sure they'll do well over here.

Looks like it won't be!

In particular, our own fresh&easyTM line of products will have no added trans fat and no artificial colors or flavors.

Unfortunately HFCS doesn't come under those categories, so it could still be used in great quantities without a doubt.

[no name 1]

Looks like it won't be!

In particular, our own fresh&easyTM line of products will have no added trans fat and no artificial colors or flavors.

Unfortunately HFCS doesn't come under those categories, so it could still be used in great quantities without a doubt.

Really? How wrong that is.

[Lou Lou 1]

Looks like it won't be!

In particular, our own fresh&easyTM line of products will have no added trans fat and no artificial colors or flavors.

Unfortunately HFCS doesn't come under those categories, so it could still be used in great quantities without a doubt.

Really? How wrong that is.

I think it's wrong HFCS isn't regarded with the same degree of concern as trans fat and artificial colors or flavors, but that doesn't make it any of those 3 things. It's not a fat, it's not a color, and its not a flavor. It's a food additive and usually used to replace sugar. It's definitely one of the biggest downfalls of foods here as we all contest on an almost weekly basis in this forum!

Edited June 27, 2007 by Lou Lou

[no name 1]

Looks like it won't be!

In particular, our own fresh&easyTM line of products will have no added trans fat and no artificial colors or flavors.

Unfortunately HFCS doesn't come under those categories, so it could still be used in great quantities without a doubt.

Really? How wrong that is.

I think it's wrong HFCS isn't regarded with the same degree of concern as trans fat and artificial colors or flavors, but that doesn't make it any of those 3 things. It's not a fat, it's not a color, and its not a flavor. It's a food additive and usually used to replace sugar, no?

True. But their new name is Fresh & Easy, so we shall have to see! If they do yummy ready made stuff it shouldn't have it....I remain hopeful & I can guarantee I will report back as soon as it opens!

[broma25 2]

I am sure it won't be like popping to your local Tesco.........more's the pity!!!!

[Mags 112]

I think Lou Lou has a point. Low fat foods in the UK are classed as "healthy options" and yet they are full of sugar. Sugar doesn't make the fat content of foods increase, hence they are able to add it to low fat yoghurts, meals etc etc

I hope against hope that the USA Tescos are able to offer wonderfully healthy foods with no added sugars, HFCS and additives....but after thinking about it a bit more I'm afraid they probably won't be that much different than a Krogers, or similar.

/sigh.

Edited June 28, 2007 by mags

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

I just found this http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle1909372.ece

Most worrying statement of the whole article...

"Fresh juice, yes – Twiglets, no (apparently too disgusting for the American palate)."

Like 60 Americans families can judge!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Since Twiglets are sticks dipped in marmite (the devil's spread) I'm going to have to declare that the most sensible business decision ever!

I don't think featherb will be too pleased though.

[featherB 1]

I can't believe they actually mention Twiglets specifically in that article - the very thing I was dreaming of, as well! (Although I didn't really hold out much hope that it would be like UK branches of Tesco at all, or stock much brit-foods, if any... I was just indulging my Twiglet craving!).

Robinklake, 'the devil's spread' made me snigger. Although you are, of course, entirely wrong!