LOS ANGELES -- England's Prince Andrew was in Compton Thursday to preside over a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of a British-owned grocery store -- one of several Southland events for the fourth in line to the British throne.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke and Compton Mayor Eric Perrodin were also at this morning's opening of the Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market at 2175 W. Rosecrans Ave. at Central Avenue. The Fresh and Easy chain is owned by British supermarket giant Tesco.
"I'm delighted to be able to support Tesco as they expand here in the U.S.," the prince said. "By locating stores in areas like Compton, Tesco's Fresh and Easy will help contribute to local job creation in neighborhoods that badly need it."
A group called the Alliance for Healthy and Responsible Grocery Stores had criticized Tesco for not opening more stores in underserved urban communities, and wants Tesco "to negotiate a community benefits agreement to guarantee good jobs, food safety, significant numbers of stores in underserved communities and high environmental standards as it expands into the U.S.," according to a statement by the group.
"We applaud Tesco for opening a Fresh & Easy in Compton. However, they have now applied for permits for at least 70 locations in Southern California, and this is the first they've opened in an underserved community -- and they have yet to open a store in South Los Angeles," said Elliott Petty, a retail analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.
"For a corporation that came here proclaiming it was different because it would open stores in communities historically ignored by other grocers, one out of 70 sure reeks of tokenism," he said.
Two weeks ago, the company opened a store on Hollywood's iconic Walk of Fame.
The new grocery store will bring local jobs and fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices, according to the company.
Fresh and Easy currently operates 43 grocery markets in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona.
Tesco, which is one of the world's largest international retailers, invested $2 billion over five years in Fresh and Easy.
During the store's opening ceremony, the Compton Baseball Academy Teams was presented with a donation from Fresh and Easy. The organization was nominated by local Compton residents and selected by the Fresh & Easy store staff.
"Fresh and Easy is committed to opening stores in all types of neighborhoods, said CEO Tim Mason. "We believe everyone deserves fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices, regardless of where they live."
The Compton Fresh & Easy will employ 22 people. All entry-level positions pay well over the minimum wage, starting at $10 an hour, with a quarterly bonus of up to 10 percent. Also, all employees work a minimum of 20 hours a week and are eligible for healthcare insurance.
Fresh and Easy's private brand has no artificial colors or flavors, no added trans fats, and only uses preservatives when necessary. The company also offers national brands and authentic products delivered daily and date-coded so customers know it is fresh.
More information regarding Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at www.freshandeasy.com.
Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, is a one-time naval chopper pilot-turned-British trade representative.
He was also scheduled to meet with two Compton families "to learn about what availability of fresh, healthy food will mean to them and their children," said British Consulate spokesman Angus Mackay.
On Thursday night, he was to deliver a speech at a dinner meeting of the British- American Business Council of Los Angeles at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey, Mackay said.
Friday, he will be in El Segundo to visit the American corporate headquarters of BT Americas, a British-owned telecommunications multinational, to learn about the company's plans to use solar energy for its office needs, he said.
And early Friday night, he will attend a reception hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On Monday, he will address a luncheon meeting of the British-American Business Council of Orange County at the Hilton hotel in Costa Mesa.
The 47-year-old Andrew -- His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, The Duke of York -- is a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who saw action in the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982 and spent 22 years in the service.
Since 2001, he has been the United Kingdom's Special Representative for Trade & Investment, charged with promoting international trade with Britain.
The ex-husband of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, sparked some controversy before setting off for the United States by saying in an interview that U.S. officials should have listened to British advice before dismantling the defeated Iraqi army and outlawing Saddam Hussein's Baath party following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2001.
There are "occasions when people in the U.K. would wish that those in responsible positions in the U.S. might listen and learn from our experiences," the prince said in comments reported by The New York Times.
