Wawa, Inc. today announced a significant milestone in the Company’s
history –
the grand opening of its first Wawa store in the
state of Alabama! Located in Baldwin County, at
18968 Greeno Road in Fairhope, this location is
the first of three Wawa stores slated to open in the South Alabama
market before the end of summer. During this historic event, Wawa
was joined by local officials, heroes and community members for a
ribbon-cutting ceremony, parade of Wawa history, local cheerleaders
and musicians, and a “Hoagies for Heroes” charitable hoagie
building competition between local fire and police teams.
The grand opening celebration also kicks off Wawa’s “Lending a
Helping Hoagie” program to benefit Prodisee Pantry, a
non-profit organization providing emergency food and disaster
relief to Baldwin County families facing hardship stemming
from job loss, medical expenses, natural disasters and other
crises. Wawa has committed to donating a portion of hoagie sales
from the first Baldwin County store (up to $5,000) to Prodisee
Pantry to help fight hunger in the local community. In addition,
The Wawa Foundation will also announce a grant to USA Children’s
and Women’s Hospital to support child life programs.
“We are excited to fly into Alabama and bring our unique
combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience and service to
this market for the very first time. This historic milestone kicks
off our ongoing investment in Alabama as we continue our plans to
build new stores and create new jobs,” said Brian Schaller,
President of Wawa. “We are also thrilled about extending our
commitment to being a good neighbor to Baldwin County, and our
partnerships with Prodisee Pantry and USA Children’s and Women’s
Hospital are examples of how we will support local causes.”
Grand Opening DetailsOn Thursday, April 25, at
8 a.m., Wawa’s doors opened for the first time in Alabama to
welcome new friends and neighbors! The first 250 customers received
special milestone Wawa t-shirts. At 10 a.m., the celebration began
with local officials joining Wawa associates, Wawa’s mascots Wally
Goose and Shorti, and community partners for this landmark event.
The event included the Fairhope High School musical ensemble,
followed by the introduction of the store team and the first
official “Wawa Parade through the Ages,” which visually highlighted
key milestones in Wawa history. Immediately following the parade,
Wawa President Brian Schaller spoke about the significance of the
Company’s first Alabama store and expected local and state impact
through continuing Wawa expansion in the Baldwin County and Mobile
markets. Local officials spoke about Wawa’s expansion and community
initiatives, including Prodisee Pantry and the “Lending a Helping
Hoagie” program and The Wawa Foundation grant to USA Children’s and
Women’s Hospital. The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting,
officially marking the Company’s entrance into the state.
The event also included Alabama’s first Hoagies for
Heroes charitable hoagie building contest, as members of
the Fairhope Fire and Police Departments face off
in a battle of bravery, skill and sandwich-making expertise. Each
team was challenged to see who can build the most hoagies in three
minutes in the traditional Wawa way. Wawa concluded the Hoagies for
Heroes competitions by presenting checks on behalf of the winning
and runner up teams, for $1,000 to the charities of their
choice.
Andy Stephens will serve as General Manager of
the store, leading a team of 35 associates, new positions brought
to the area through the new store. Associates in these full- and
part-time positions will not only receive competitive salaries and
health benefits, but they will participate in Wawa’s employee stock
ownership plan (ESOP). Today, Wawa Associates own more than 39% of
the Company through the ESOP. Associates also have access to the
ingredients that build a career, including training, development,
educational assistance and a flexible, welcoming environment that
helps everyone soar. Wawa’s expansion plans provide opportunities
to join a growing company with opportunities and a culture where
associates take the lead in bringing joy to new friends and
neighbors and supporting their communities through volunteering,
charitable giving and events. Soar with Wawa Video
Gallery.
About Wawa Expansion in Baldwin County & Mobile
MarketsThis summer, Wawa will open stores located at 7095
Cottage Hill Road in Mobile and 21022 Hwy 59 in Robertsdale.
Construction also recently began at a fourth store located at 664
Schillinger Road. Overall, Wawa plans to open 7 to 10 stores in the
Baldwin County and Mobile markets over the next 3 to 4 years. Once
open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates, with Wawa
expecting to create hundreds of long-term new jobs as a result of
continued expansion into Baldwin County and Mobile.
About Wawa’s Core PurposeWawa’s core purpose is
Fulfilling Lives, Every Day. It captures Wawa’s special place in
the world and recognizes Wawa’s higher calling beyond convenience
and satisfaction. It inspires Wawa associates to create meaningful
personal connections and make a real difference in the lives of
customers, communities and each other, every day.
About Wawa’s and The Wawa Foundation’s Commitment to
Local CommunitiesThrough The Wawa Foundation, a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to support Wawa’s charitable giving and
philanthropic activities, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation are
committed to building stronger communities, specifically in the
Foundation’s three focus areas of health, hunger and everyday
heroes. Visit:
www.thewawafoundation.org.
About Wawa, Inc.Wawa, Inc., a privately held
company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the
end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in
dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in
Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its
quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of
milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson,
opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 in Pennsylvania as an
outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day
stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services
and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington,
D.C. with nearly 1,000 locations to date. The stores offer a large
fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom
prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches,
hand-crafted specialty beverages, a dinner menu including burgers
and pizza, an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com
Ranks Wawa as #20 of America’s Largest Private Companies, #1 in
Convenience Category for America’s Best Customer Service by
Newsweek, one of Forbes 2023 America’s Best Employers for Women and
New College Grads.
Contact:
public.relations@wawa.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96c0e3e9-9538-4281-b395-53af8f8817f7