RALPHS MAKING NEW FORAY INTO GOURMET FIELD.Byline: Chris Sieroty Staff Writer CAMARILLO - Ralphs Grocery Co. is staking its future on Southern California's growing desire for smaller, more friendly markets that feature organic foods and other upscale items such as prime beef Prime BEEF Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force (US DoD) PRIME BEEF Priority Improved Management Effort - Base Engineer Emergency Force and fine wine. To meet that demand, the company is opening it's 10th Ralphs Fresh Fare supermarket today at 674 Las Posas Road in Camarillo. Focusing on the region's affluent communities, the chain's new stores are 40,000 square feet, smaller than a regular Ralphs, and positioned to compete against Gelson's and Whole Foods Markets. ``We believe it offers the best of everything customers are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. in a supermarket,'' said Ralphs spokesman Terry O'Neil. The stores were designed to resemble a Whole Foods by using earthtones and having a natural look. The stores also feature many of the same organic and vegetarian items as its competition. ``We looked at Whole Foods and other upscale stores in originally planning the chain, but put a Ralphs twist to it,'' O'Neil said. Other upscale and niche markets welcomed the competition, but don't expect the Compton-based Ralphs to cut into their slice of the natural foods pie. ``It's an industry that is expanding,'' said Elizabeth Carovillano, director of marketing for Whole Foods in Sherman Oaks. ``Of course they are going to replicate us. It's the greatest form of flattery.'' John Correnti, the assistant manager at Trader Joe's Trader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. As of September 2007, Trader Joe's has a total of 284 stores.[1] across the street from a Fresh Fare store in La Canada Flintridge, agreed the new chain hasn't hurt business. ``We have a brand name,'' Correnti said. ``Customers will continue to shop here for certain products before going to Ralphs to buy toilet paper.'' Unlike its competitors, however, the Ralphs Fresh Fare markets are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, O'Neil said. The Camarillo store also features a pharmacy and an indoor/outdoor dining area. Ralphs, a division of Cinncinati-based Kroger Co., opened its first Fresh Fare store in West Los Angeles
A community of southern California southeast of Irvine. It is mainly residential. Population: 96,300. , Villa Park Villa Park, village (1990 pop. 22,253), Du Page co., NE Ill.; inc. 1914. It is a residential suburb W of Chicago. , La Canada Flintridge, Rolling Hills Rolling hills are like a mountain chain, only a "hill chain" of hills that roll on and on continually. You will often find them in between plains and mountains, near major rivers, or randomly anywhere. The only places without rolling hills are deserts and flood plains. , Pacific Palisades Palisades, cliffs along the west bank of the Hudson River, NE N.J. and SE N.Y., extending from N of Jersey City, N.J., to the vicinity of Piermont, N.Y., with a general altitude of from 350 ft to 550 ft (107–168 m). , Palos Verdes Palos Verdes is often used to refer to a group of coastal cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the Los Angeles/South Bay area of California. This affluent bedroom community is known for its dramatic views, good schools [1] extensive horse trails [2] , West Hollywood West Hollywood A community of southern California northeast of Beverly Hills. It is mainly residential. Population: 36,600. and Riverside. ``With a smaller store, we try and cater to the customer's needs,'' said Raissa Huravsky, assistant manager at Ralphs Fresh Fare in La Canada Flintridge. ``We also lean toward the specialty and gourmet item.'' Unlike a typical Ralphs store, Fresh Fare carries organic fruits and vegetables, prime cuts of meat and seafood and a bakery. The store also operates a pre-cooked deli section that offers the customer everything from grilled salmon sandwiches to chicken Kiev. ``It's an upscale supermarket that features new items as well as all the traditional offerings,'' O'Neil said. ``The prices are the same for milk and apples as a conventional store.'' Huravsky said the response to the new Ralphs has been overwhelming. ``There are a lot of customers commuting from Glendale and Pasadena to do their shopping here,'' she said. Kathleen Anderson, of Alhambra who stopped by to buy a frozen dinner and bottled water to take with her to work, said she shops at Ralphs Fresh Fare because it's convenient and reasonably priced. But, she said, ``The ready-to-go food is a little too expensive.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Max Dailey stocks the produce shelves at the new Ralphs Fresh Fare in Camarillo. The store opens today. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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