Yucaipa Investor Claims Previous Owner's Bad Decisions Doomed Fresh & Easy

Fresh & Easy failed to overcome bad decisions made by its previous owner, forcing the retailer to file for bankruptcy protection in October 2015, according to Ronald W. Burkle of investment firm Yucaipa Cos. After Fresh & Easy’s first filing for bankruptcy in 2013, Yucaipa took over more than 150 of the retailer’s stores. UK-based Tesco extended a $120 million loan to Yucaipa as part of its failed efforts to gain a foothold in the U.S. retail market. Increasing competition in the supermarket industry was among the factors that doomed Fresh & Easy, according to market analysts.