Wawa is a private company that operates stores in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D. C. It does not have any stores in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. The company is well-known for its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which was formalized in 1992 and awards shares to associates based on prior year service.
Wawa is often compared to Sheetz due to their similar business models and Pennsylvania roots. The company has a presence in 28% of the total number of Wawa locations, with one location per 32,298 people. The name of the city of Wawa is derived from the Ojibwe word 'wewe', which means 'snow goose', and is reflected in the company's logo. The company has expanded its operations beyond Pennsylvania and now serves customers in New Jersey as well.
It has adapted its operating procedures to match coastal culture in some Jersey Shore cities. Wawa has one location per 52,040 people, accounting for 25% of the total number of Wawa locations. The U. S.
Department of State has 49 states and territories without any Wawa location. The company's first dairy plant and corporate headquarters were located in the Wawa, Pennsylvania area, which is where the chain's name comes from. It began using the motto 'Buy Health by the Bottle' and delivering milk to customers' homes. Wawa plans to double its number of stores to 1,800 locations by 2030 and fill the market in states between Virginia and Florida where it already has a foothold. One location per 88,752 people accounts for 24% of the total number of Wawa locations.
