Wawa announces expansion into 3 more states as explosive growth year continues

Dive Brief:

Wawa has announced plans to expand into Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky “sometime after 2025,” according to a Wednesday announcement.
The retailer said the timeframes and ranges for the number of stores to open in these states will be announced in 2023. Wawa did not specify where in these states the stores will be located.
Wawa’s latest expansion plans continue its explosive growth year. Since March, it has announced it’s moving into seven new states.

Dive Insight:

Earlier this year, Wawa’s president and CEO Chris Gheysens told the Philadelphia Business Journal that Wawa was experiencing “the most aggressive growth” in its history and plans to nearly double its store count to about 1,800 locations by 2030. Since then, the company has revealed plans to expand into North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky over the next few years.

Given that Wawa currently operates in seven states overall, announcing plans to double its states of operation promises to make waves across the c-store industry.

Wawa’s latest moves continue its “long-term expansion plan to fuel future store growth in adjacent and new markets,” according to the announcement. John Poplawski, vice president of real estate for Wawa, said the retailer has “received thousands of requests over the years” to expand further west.

“These markets are the perfect places for Wawa to expand based on their strong business communities, their family-like atmosphere and the confidence that our unique offer and amazing associates will be welcomed by these communities,” Gheysens said in the announcement.

Wawa said it’s currently accepting site suggestions from real estate representatives for all locations, including adjacent and new market areas.

New-market expansion has been one of the top trends seen across the c-store industry in 2022. Besides Wawa, chains such as Kwik Trip, Royal Farms, Kum & Go, EG America, Buc-ee’s and QuikTrip have revealed plans to move into new markets this year, some of which include Michigan, North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Alabama among others.