Tesco's Fresh & Easy Test Drives First 'Green' Fleet Trailer

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - In its latest teaser for its pending arrival in West Coast markets, Tesco yesterday said the first of its fleet of distribution trailers arrived that, like its coming Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market locations, "will showcase the company's goal to be a good steward of the environment."

"As a new company in the U.S., we have had the opportunity to work with leaders in 'green technology' to create, from the ground up, an entire fleet of aerodynamic, fuel efficient and neighborhood-conscious trailers in our first round of manufacturing," said Tim Mason, c.e.o. for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, based here.

The trailer includes a hybrid refrigeration vector unit that minimizes the amount of diesel used to safely cool and transport store products, Tesco said. All Fresh & Easy trailers will include automatic refrigeration shut-off when optimum temperature is reached inside the cooling chamber as well as a complete engine shut-off once parked at the stores, the U.K.-based grocer said. Electrical stand-by technology will also minimize the impact on the environment by using no diesel fuel to run refrigeration units on the trailers while parked at the distribution center.

In addition to maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing their CO2 footprint, the trailers are designed to reduce audible noise by 66 percent, Tesco said. For example, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market trailers will contain roll up doors rather than lift gate trailers to minimize noise. Drivers will also be committed to a zero-noise policy in the truck cabs while unloading at stores.

Specific site "route mapping" will ensure community safety by limiting deliveries during school hours and/or along major pedestrian traffic areas, the grocer added. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is also regulating distribution times in accordance with its good neighbor standards.

The trailers are bright white and contain the company's green Fresh & Easy logo. The Web site address (http://www.freshandeasy.com) lies across the back of each trailer.

Tesco is the U.K.'s largest retailer and one of the world's leading international retailers, operating over 2,800 stores across 12 countries.
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