3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry.
It feels like every couple months, we hear something new about Wawa’s massive expansion plans. This week, the company said it will welcome its first Georgia store on Nov. 14. The expansion will really pick up next year, with Wawa set to open its first locations in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
In this week’s three numbers, we look at what the future holds for Wawa in Georgia, what to expect from its first travel center and how customers feel about shopping in its stores.
26
The number of Wawa locations expected in Georgia in the next eight years.
With the first Georgia Wawa is coming up in a few weeks, it’s worth noting the company plans to open three to four stores annually in the state over the next eight years.
While this is a decent growth rate, it’s actually one of Wawa’s smallest planned outlays. North Carolina, where Wawa opened its first store earlier this year, is expected to get around 80 new locations in the same time span, while many other states where Wawa’s just starting to open stores — Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama — are expected to have between 40 and 60.
Only West Virginia’s plan is smaller, with the retailer set to build three to five new stores in the Berkeley and Jefferson County markets in the next five years.
8,355
The square footage of an upcoming Wawa travel center in North Carolina.
Wawa is not the first c-store operator that’s getting into travel centers, but it is one of the most closely watched. The company revealed in May that it’s building its first truck stop in Hope Mills, North Carolina.
According to a site plan shared by the Town of Hope Mills, the c-store will be 8,355 gross square feet. The forecourt will include both regular gasoline and high-flow diesel under separate canopies, and plenty of parking for both cars and large trucks.
The plan also showed 20 parking spots with electric vehicle charging capabilities, as well as four pull-through charging spots.
When announcing the site at a community meeting in May, Senior Engineering Manager Ted Iobst said the store will also include indoor seating and expanded bathrooms.
82
Wawa’s leading consumer satisfaction score.
All the growth in the world won’t help a company if no one wants to visit its stores. Luckily that’s not a problem for Wawa.
A report earlier this month from the American Customer Satisfaction Index revealed that customers gave Wawa a satisfaction rating of 82 — the highest of any convenience store whose scores were individually broken out, and six points above the industry average of 76.
The grade of 82 put Wawa just ahead of QuikTrip, which earned an 81, and Buc-ee’s and Murphy USA at 80. In the Northeast, the company scored even higher at 83.
All this is to say that people in areas with a Wawa are generally happy with the experience of visiting its stores. The company is clearly hoping to continue growing that experience as it aims for 1,800 locations.
