CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
March 22, 2012 | By David Zahniser and Shan Li, Los Angeles Times
Four weeks after Wal-Mart announced plans to open a grocery store in Chinatown, Los Angeles City Council members have proposed a law that would block an array of chain businesses from opening in the neighborhood. A temporary ordinance sought by Councilman Ed Reyes would prohibit building permits from being issued for new "formula retail" stores - those that have standardized facades, color schemes, decor, employee uniforms and merchandise. Wal-Mart is seeking to open a 33,000-square-foot market and pharmacy in a vacant ground-floor commercial space at Cesar Chavez and Grand avenues.
BUSINESS
March 19, 2012 | By Tiffany Hsu
Starbucks Coffee Co.'s foray into juice is bearing fruit (and vegetables), with its first Evolution Fresh store now open and selling “wholesome products” in Bellevue, Wash. The Seattle coffee giant, hoping for an entryway into the burgeoning healthful lifestyle industry, bought San Bernardino-based Evolution Fresh Inc. in November for $30 million . The juice company, created by Naked Juice founder Jimmy Rosenberg, uses fresh fruits and vegetables and employs a process called high-pressure processing that produces the juice without heat to retain more nutrients and flavors.
BUSINESS
February 1, 2012 | By Tiffany Hsu
If the National Restaurant Assn. is right, eateries across the country will end this year with record high sales. The trade group is expecting $632 billion in revenue for the industry - a 3.5% increase over 2011. The still-shaky economy, it seems, won't be getting too much in the way. Restaurants with table service will haul in an estimated $201 billion, while fast-food joints such as McDonald's are expected to end up with $174 billion in revenue for the year.
BUSINESS
January 11, 2012 | By Shan Li, Los Angeles Times
Like the redcoats of yesteryear, British retail giant Tesco is finding America hard to win over. Seven California grocery stores are among 12 underperforming locations nationwide to be closed by Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market in an effort to boost profitability. The stores in California — in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Fountain Valley, Fresno, Hemet and Ontario — will close within the next few weeks, along with four stores in Phoenix and one in Las Vegas, company spokesman Brendan Wonnacott said.
BUSINESS
January 10, 2012 | By Shan Li
Seven Southland grocery stores are among 12 under-performing locations nationwide to be closed by Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets in an effort to boost profitability, a report says. The seven stores in Southern California -- in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Fountain Valley, Fresno, Hemet and Ontario -- will close within the next few weeks, along with four stores in Phoenix and one in Las Vegas, company spokesman Brendan Wonnacott wrote in an email. "At this time, there is simply not enough growth in sales and customers at those stores to keep them open," Wonnacott said.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
October 21, 2011 | By Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times
Millions of Californians took part in one of the largest-ever simultaneous earthquake drills Thursday, sending students, hospital workers and even Target shoppers dropping for cover at 10:20 a.m. The annual ShakeOut drill, which attracted 8.6 million registrants in California, was intended to train the public on what to do the moment the shaking begins — dropping, covering your head, and holding on, rather than panicking and running, which would...