Fresh & Easy Takes Home 39 Awards for Its Exclusive Wines

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market won 39 medals at the 72nd annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, www.lawinecomp.com. Judged in May, the competition had nearly 3,200 wines entered from around the world, which were tasted by a 64-member panel comprised of international judges.

Fresh & Easy's new exclusive California wine range performed particularly well at the competition, picking up 18 medals. The California wines, which were introduced in March, retail in stores from $3.99 to $19.99. The I Heart CA and WineWrights lines each earned medals in every category entered. Fresh & Easy's new California wines are sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the state's premium wine growing regions, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara.

"Having strong partnerships with local wineries helps us create high-quality, award-winning wines that can be offered at incredible prices," said Richard Wherry, category manager of wine and beer for Fresh & Easy. "We're happy these partnerships have led to deliciously affordable wines, popular with both customers and professional judges."

Fresh & Easy, which is already known for its award-winning and affordable wine selection, has now received 275 medals in wine competition since 2007. The majority of Fresh & Easy's exclusive award-winning wines retail for under $10. Fresh & Easy's wine range offers national brands along with exclusive blends that come from all over the world. Customers can choose from wines crafted in California, Washington, Oregon, Italy, Spain, Australia, France, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.

About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Fresh & Easy operates 175 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada. In addition to fresh prepared meals, meats and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone's favorite national brand products and household items, all at unbelievably low prices. The grocer's popular fresh&easy brand products have no artificial colors or flavors, no added trans fats, no high-fructose corn syrup, and only use preservatives when absolutely necessary.

On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket, which helps customers save money – and also helps the environment. Fresh & Easy uses LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases, offers customer recycling in every store and uses advanced refrigeration and freezer units to cut back on energy usage. The company also recycles or reuses all of its display packaging, sending the majority back through its distribution center.

For more information about Fresh & Easy, visit www.freshandeasy.com. Also follow the company on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/freshandeasy and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshandeasy.

SOURCE Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market