Wawa (company): Difference between revisions

| area_served = [[Alabama]], [[Delaware]], [[Florida]], [[Maryland]], [[North Carolina]], [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Virginia]], [[Washington, D.C.]]<br />Planned: [[Alabama]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Indiana]], [[Kentucky]], [[North CarolinaOhio]], [[OhioTennessee]], [[TennesseeWest Virginia]] <br />Former: [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Connecticut]]

'''Wawa, Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|w|aː|w|aː}} {{respell|WAH-WAH}}) is an American chain of [[convenience store]]s and [[gas station]]s originating in the [[Philadelphia metropolitan area]] and now located along the [[East Coast of the United States]], operating in [[Pennsylvania]], [[New Jersey]], [[Delaware]], [[Maryland]], [[Virginia]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Florida]], [[Alabama]], and [[FloridaNorth Carolina]].<ref name="AboutWawa">{{cite web | url=https://www.wawa.com/About.aspx#aboutwawa | title=About Wawa | publisher=Wawa | date=2016 | access-date=May 9, 2016 | archive-date=March 9, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309043149/https://www.wawa.com/About.aspx#aboutwawa | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ALOpening">{{cite web | url=https://www.al.com/life/2024/04/ive-never-seen-anything-like-this-wawa-is-open-for-business-in-alabama.html | title='I've never seen anything like this': Wawa is open for business in Alabama | accessdate=April 25, 2024 | author=Specker, Lawrence}}</ref> Wawa is based in, primarily associated with, and mainly concentrated in the [[Philadelphia]] metropolitan area, though in recent years it has gradually expanded its store locations beyond the Philadelphia area. The company's corporate headquarters is located in the [[Wawa, Pennsylvania|Wawa]] area of [[Chester Heights, Pennsylvania]] in [[Greater Philadelphia]].<!--Cited below-->

In 2022, [[Philadelphia (magazine)|''Philadelphia'' magazine]] ranked the Gobbler, Wawa's seasonal [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]]-themed hoagie, as theirthe chain's best sandwich among 15 taste-tested.<ref>[https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/wawa-sandwiches-ranked/ Wawa Sandwiches, Ranked], [[Philadelphia (magazine)|''Philadelphia Magazine'']], September 2022</ref><ref>[https://wpst.com/wawa-gobbler-sandwich-ranked-best-wawa-sandwich/ Wawa "Gobbler" Ranked Best Wawa Sandwich, Says Food Critic], [[WPST]] radio, September 28, 2022</ref>

Wawa operates stores in [[Alabama]], [[Delaware]], [[Florida]], [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], [[North Carolina]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Virginia]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] Wawa's territory once stretched into [[North Jersey|Northern New Jersey]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Connecticut]], but in the late 1990s, the decision was made to abandon the franchised stores in the [[New York metropolitan area]], as it was too competitive.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The abandoned stores were re-branded when they were sold to Krauszer's (in Connecticut) and a variety of other convenience retailers, but most are still recognizable as they retain their distinctive "Wawa" design. The company continued to operate numerous stores in [[Central Jersey]] and [[South Jersey]], and re-entered [[North Jersey]] in 2010, when Wawa opened a new store in [[Parsippany, New Jersey|Parsippany]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Paik|first=Eugene|url=http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/06/wawas_parsippany_store_will_be.html|title=Wawa's Parsippany store will be its northernmost location|publisher=[[The Star-Ledger]]|date=June 14, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2010}}</ref> Wawa opened its 100th Super Wawa in New Jersey on October 12, 2012, in [[Woodbridge, New Jersey|Woodbridge]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bell|first=Deborah|url=http://woodbridge.patch.com/articles/wawa-set-to-open-in-ford-on-friday|title=Wawa Set to Open New Fords Store This Friday|work=Woodbridge Patch|date=October 9, 2012|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> Wawa moved farther into North Jersey opening in [[Kearny, New Jersey|Kearny]] on January 11, 2013, and [[Lodi, New Jersey|Lodi]] on October 4, 2013. The company plans to open five Wawas a year in North Jersey for the next 10 to 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Genovese|first=Peter|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/01/wawa_in_mahwah_some_day_chain.html|title=Wawa in Mahwah some day? Chain invades North Jersey |work=[[The Star-Ledger]]|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=January 12, 2013}}</ref>

In 2022, Wawa announced their intentions to expand to [[North Carolina]] by 2024. On May 1216, 20232024, the company broke ground onopened its first location there, in [[Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina|Kill Devil Hills]].<ref>{{cite news |authortitle=LeahFirst |first=HeatherNorth |date=May 12, 2023 |title=It's here!Carolina Wawa breaksopens groundin onKill first North Carolina storeDevil Hills|workpublisher=WRAL WVEC|location=RaleighNorfolk, NCVA|date=May 16, 2024|url=https://www.wral13newsnow.com/storyvideo/itnews/local/north-scarolina/outer-herebanks/291-wawad3e1c731-breaks8e86-ground4c1a-on96f5-first-north-carolina-store/20857262/ 0e3df4ec3363|access-date=May 1229, 20232024}}</ref> The company also announced plans to open stores in the [[Florida Panhandle]] (including [[Panama City, Florida|Panama City]], [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], and [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]]) and [[Mobile, Alabama]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|title=Wawa, popular convenience store chain, eyeing this city for first Alabama location|publisher=AL.com|date=April 18, 2022|url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/wawa-popular-convenience-store-chain-eyeing-this-city-for-first-alabama-location.html|access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref> Its first store in Alabama opened on April 25, 2024, in [[Fairhope, Alabama|Fairhope]].<ref name="ALOpening"/> Wawa has plans to expand into the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] area in [[Tennessee]], with the first location to open in 2025 and plans for up to 40 stores.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mazza|first=Sandy|title=Wawa convenience market, an East Coast favorite, teases Nashville locations|work=Nashville Tennessean|date=June 7, 2022|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2022/06/07/wawa-convenience-store-coming-nashville-tn/7545103001/|access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, Wawa announced an aggressivea push into [[South Central Pennsylvania]] and specifically [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], which has long been [[Sheetz]] territory but also has [[Rutter's]] and [[Turkey Hill Minit Markets|Turkey Hill]] as strong local competitors alongside national competitors such as [[7-Eleven]]/ and [[Speedway (store)|Speedway]].<ref name=Harrisburg>{{cite web |last=Gleiter|first=Sue|url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/06/wawa-poised-to-expand-in-central-pa-with-up-to-40-convenience-stores.html | title=Wawa poised to expand in central Pa. with up to 40 convenience stores |publisher=PennLive|date=June 23, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2022}}</ref> In October 2022, Wawa announced it would be expanding into Georgia, with the first location opening in [[Waycross, Georgia|Waycross]], by 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southernliving.com/news/wawa-expanding-georgia | title=Wawa Is Heading To Georgia | publisher=Southern Living | access-date=December 11, 2022 | author=Locker, Melissa}}</ref> On December 7, 2022, Wawa announced an expansion into [[Kentucky]], [[Indiana]], and [[Ohio]] after 2025.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rees|first=David|title=Wawa stores announce expansion into Ohio|publisher=WCMH-TV|location=Columbus, OH|date=December 7, 2022|url=https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/wawa-stores-announce-expansion-into-ohio/|access-date=December 7, 2022}}</ref>

Wawa, for the most part, covers parts of Pennsylvania not already served by rival stores such as [[Sheetz]], which Wawa is often compared to due to their similar business models and Pennsylvania roots. This led to a "rivalry" between the two chains among Pennsylvanians, though the two companies themselves have a friendly relationship.<ref name="Sheetz">{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-01/business/38165625_1_lou-sheetz-dairy-farm-coffee-business |title=Archives |work= Philly.com |access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref> The character of the two chains has been described as, "Sheetz is typically louder and flashier, with a more intense vibe than Wawa's unassuming, plain and simple appearance. ... But while Sheetz may seem like it has more options, Wawa reminds us that no matter how you are dressed, you are welcome there."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cityandstatepa.com/Content/Wawa-vs-Sheetz-Lets-Look-Some-Stats-Leading-Big-Debate | title=Wawa vs. Sheetz: Let's look at some stats leading up to the big debate | publisher=[[City & State]] | work=City & State Pennsylvania | date=June 16, 2021 | access-date=December 7, 2021 | author=Dehuff, Jenny}}</ref> Despite the rivalry, the two stores generally do not compete head-to-head in Pennsylvania, with only a few small overlapping areas in the eastern part of the state served by both chains.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connell |first1=Jon |title=There's a heated Sheetz/Wawa rivalry everywhere but here |journal=[[The Citizens' Voice]] |date=17 August 2019 |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/theres-a-heated-sheetz-wawa-rivalry-everywhere-but-here/article_e267910e-fb44-51a9-af30-80205df680e2.html |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Salamone |first1=Anthony |title=A Wawa or Sheetz on every corner? Here's what's driving the Lehigh Valley's convenience store boom |journal=[[The Morning Call]] |date=1 August 2019 |url=https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-lehigh-valley-convenience-store-battle-20190801-6rgsdvaltrdurdxkbx37jlxhqu-story.html |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> In Virginia, both chains share a market in the [[HamptonGreater Roads]], [[Richmond, VirginiaRegion|Greater Richmond]], and [[Northern Virginia]] regions. Wawa's planned expansion into South Central Pennsylvania as well as North Carolina will see more head-to-head competition from both chains,<ref name=Harrisburg /> enough where Sheetz subsequently announced more store locations in [[Western Pennsylvania]] (where [[GetGo]], 7-Eleven/Speedway, and locally based Coen Markets are major competitors as well a [[Circle K]] to a lesser extent) to fend off a potential expansion of Wawa into the [[Pittsburgh]] market.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/07/sheetz-plans-30-store-expansion-project-in-part-of-pennsylvania.html | title=Sheetz plans 30-store expansion project in part of Pennsylvania | date=29 July 2022 }}</ref> Maryland-based [[Royal Farms]] also shares a market with Wawa in several Mid-Atlantic states.

* {{Official website|www.wawa.com|mobile=http://m.wawa.com/WawaMobile/}}