Orange County Register

British retail giant Tesco is opening Orange County’s second Fresh & Easy store Wednesday in Laguna Hills.

Tesco has opened 13 Fresh & Easy grocery stores in Southern California and Nevada this month, including a store in Anaheim. Fanfare is surrounding this particular Fresh & Easy, located along Moulton Parkway, because it’s the first store Tesco was able to build from the ground up, officials say.

“It’s the prototype store,” said Fresh & Easy spokesman Brendan Wonnacott. “If we could have every store look like this, we would.”

The 10,000-square-foot store boasts skylights, and energy efficient lighting to help reduce the retailer’s use of electricity. That strategy underscores the British retailer’s promise to be an eco-friendly market for United States consumers concerned over global warming.

The opening comes as various community watchdog groups, and unions rally against Tesco this week. Tesco is the world’s third largest retailer.

Regardless of criticism against Tesco, Laguna Hills officials say the Fresh & Easy store will fill a void in the area.

Vern Jones, the city’s community development director, said the Moulton Plaza shopping center has not had a grocery store since a 40,000-square-foot Ralphs closed six years ago. That’s left a grocery gap for residents, especially senior citizens who frequent a senior center located in the retail center. Many will be able walk to the store to pick up a day’s worth of groceries, he said.

“Everyone is really looking forward to this,” said Jones.

More info: The Fresh & Easy in Laguna Hills will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Address: 23719 Moulton Parkway.

Related Fresh & Easy stories:

Shoppers snap up takeout meals, leaving some shelves empty

Anaheim shoppers react to O.C.’s first Fresh & Easy store

A preview of Fresh & Easy stores

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