Wawa plans to continue to expand its footprint
The convenience store wants to extend its reach as far north as outside New York and as far south as Miami.
Wawa plans to continue extending its reach as far north as outside New York and as far south as Miami, in a growth cycle company officials anticipate will remain for some time to come.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way things have progressed or been shaped in the Florida market,” said Lori A. Bruce, Wawa public relations manager. “We are opening 25 stores a year in the Florida market. It’s just continuing to spread our wings farther.”
“We absolutely treasure and appreciate our response both in Florida and here from our customers. We’re happy to expand our presence and serve more people.” — Lori A. Bruce, Wawa public relations manager
In addition, the convenience store revered as much for its made-to-order sandwiches as its coffee is opening 25 stores annually here in the Mid-Atlantic market, including stores in Jamison, Pa., Delaware and North Hackensack, N.J.
Southern expansion into the Sunshine State began in 2012 with Wawa’s opening of its Orlando store. Its most recent foray there was opening another Wawa in Tampa.
“When we expanded to Florida, the time was right to invest in the state in the area,” Bruce said.
She cited the number of transplants there as well as Wawa’s ability to fill an unmet need for a combination of fuel, convenience and food service under one roof available 24/7 as the company’s decision to forge into that market.
Since that initial opening, Wawa has grown to 80 stores in Florida with more than 2,500 associates there.
After Orlando, Wawa expanded to the Tampa area a year later. That was followed by openings in Fort Myers, Fla., and Cape Coral, Fla., earlier this year, which was greeted with great fanfare as customers lined up hours before the 8 a.m. opening.
Plans are in place to break ground in the southeastern part of the state next year with openings planned for 2017.
“It’s just been wonderful to connect with the customers who say it feels like home again and the new ones who are thrilled with our offer and the unique breadth of our offer,” Bruce said.
She highlighted Wawa’s use of touch screen ordering as a popular service in the southern state. But, it’s not just the technology that’s captured everyone’s attention down there.
“Hoagies and smoothies are very, very popular in our Florida stores,” Bruce said.
Florida, however, is not the only area seeing more signs of the red Canadian goose.
Bruce said stores in this region continue to be remodeled — and the company is opening just as many stores annually in the Pennsylvania/Delaware/ New Jersey/New York region as its southern counterpart.
In fact, she said, some of the remodelings taking place are benefiting from the Floridian expansion, as they are being based on some of the designs being seen there, such as different colors in the food service area and the addition of the kitchen-forward concept, which features a more prominent and more open area where orders are placed.
In either case, Bruce said the company is grateful to have this positive experience.
“We absolutely treasure and appreciate our response both in Florida and here from our customers,” Bruce said. “We’re happy to expand our presence and serve more people.”