Fresh & Easy Introduces New Line of Frozen Pizzas

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market expanded its Gourmet product range with a new line of specially handcrafted frozen artisan pizzas from Italy, selling for $3.99 each.

The pizzas join other Gourmet products introduced just last month, which the company said have quickly become a hit with customers looking for unique and original products. Fresh & Easy's team of chefs created the Gourmet range to cater to those seeking more affordable, restaurant-quality products to serve at home.

Using only the finest Italian ingredients and recipes, the Gourmet pizzas are handcrafted in Visso, a village just outside of Rome known for its extremely pure water from Monti Sibillini National Park. The dough and sauce are made on-site by the pizza maker who gives the pizzas a traditional, rustic Italian crust by double-proofing the dough and baking them in a stone oven.

Three varieties are now available in stores: Margherita, Four Cheese and Pesto & Arugula.

"We're always working to find interesting, unique and delicious products to bring to our customers," John Burry, Fresh & Easy's chief commercial officer, said in a released statement. "We're excited to introduce even more Gourmet products, after all, who wouldn't love a great authentic Italian pizza for less than $4."

In addition to the new pizzas, Fresh & Easy chefs have worked on innovative ways to develop its Gourmet products. The retailer uses the sous-vide cooking method for its frozen Gourmet Braised Beef in Red Wine Sauce, Gourmet Mediterranean-style Fisherman Stew and Gourmet Pork with Portobello Mushroom Sauce, which all sell for $6.99. Sous-vide is a unique method of slowly cooking food at a slightly lower temperature in specially designed pouches.

Fresh & Easy operates more than 165 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada.