‘Fresh & Easy’ Faced ‘Free Fall’

Supermarket magnate Ron Burkle has successfully operated groceries for years, but his firm could not save Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, he told the Los Angeles Times. The chain was in a “free fall” because of bad decisions made by its previous owner, he said. Fresh & Easy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October. Its stores are scheduled to close later this month with about 3,000 layoffs expected.