Wawa Celebrates Grand Opening of Norfolk Store, Continuing Banner Year of Growth and Investment

Wawa, Inc. today announced the grand opening of its new Norfolk store, located at 3350 E. Princess Anne Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502. The celebration will include fan fare, a charitable hoagie building competition between members of the Norfolk Police Station #1 and Norfolk Fire Department #10 and free coffee through February 8th. The store will also offer several grand opening specials including any size fountain drink for $0.79 and any Shorti hoagie variety for $2.99. And new for 2015, the Norfolk grand opening will feature a special visit from Wawa’s SurPrize Patrol, Wawa’s official gift and event patrol! During the event, the SurPrize Patrol will be on hand to personally help reward grand opening attendees who are signed up with Wawa’s new app and rewards program called Wawa Rewards, granting customers coupons and prizes on the spot.

The Grand opening of its Norfolk store marks the 3rd store to open in 2015. Throughout the year, Wawa plans to use its new store design prototype to bring the Wawa experience to more communities than ever before, opening 50 new stores throughout its operating area, including 25 in the Mid-Atlantic market and 25 in the Florida market.

“We are thrilled to bring the Wawa experience to the residents of Norfolk and we look forward to demonstrating our commitment to fulfilling lives with our fresh food and beverages and with meaningful connections with our new friends and neighbors,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa President and CEO. “From building new connection points with apps like Wawa Rewards to opening news stores in new communities, we’ve never been more committed to investing in our communities and fulfilling customers’ lives each and every day.”

About the Norfolk Grand Opening Festivities

On Friday, January 30, the new store will open to the public at 8:00 a.m. with the grand opening ceremony beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. The festivities will include local officials and members of the community; members of the Norfolk Police Station #1 and Norfolk Fire Department #10; Wawa Director of Store Operations, Michelle Rupert; Wawa Area Manager, Joyce Laughner; Wawa General Manager, James Keller; Wawa associates and customers; and Wawa’s mascot, Wally Goose, who will all join together for a ceremonial ribbon cutting and ceremony celebrating the many ways Wawa seeks to fulfill lives every day. During the event, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. the Wawa SurPrize Patrol will descend upon the stores showering customers who have downloaded the Wawa Rewards app with coupons, gift cards or other prize items on the spot. The Wawa Rewards mobile app is Wawa’s latest way to connect with customers and allows you to do everything from pay with your phone, to redeeming your rewards points, to finding Wawa store locations and fuel pricing.

Hoagies for Heroes Competition

The grand opening event will conclude with a Hoagies for Heroes, hoagie building competition, as the Norfolk Police Station #1 and Norfolk Fire Department #10 face off in a battle of bravery, skill, and sandwich-making expertise. Each team will be challenged to see who can build the most hoagies in three minutes in the traditional Wawa way. Wawa will conclude 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.

About Wawa’s New Norfolk Store

James Keller will serve as general manager of the store, leading a team of nearly 50 associates, all of which are new positions brought to the area through the development of the store. Associates in these full- and part-time positions will not only receive competitive salaries and health benefits, but once eligible, will participate in Wawa’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Wawa Associates own more than 43% of Wawa through the ESOP. The new Wawa store will offer customers numerous Wawa brands, such as the award-winning Wawa coffee (195 million cups sold annually); the Sizzliä, Wawa’s hot breakfast sandwich; Wawa’s new line of specialty beverages (hot, cold, iced and frozen); Wawa Bakery; Wawa’s built-to-order hoagies (80 million sold annually); and Wawa’s beverage line of juices and teas.

About Wawa’s Commitment to Fulfilling Lives

At Wawa we believe we all have a role in making the world a better place by not only by filling customer orders – but by fulfilling the lives that we touch everyday. Because happy, fulfilled and connected people, make happier and stronger communities. Beginning with our first store, Wawa has worked its way into the hearts, minds and fabric of people’s lives. Wawa does it around the clock. In 3 and ½ minute doses, every day 24/7, 365 days a year. Wawa is so committed to this concept, it has made fulfilling customers’ lives its ultimate purpose and goal – every day.

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 1960’s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATM’s. A chain of over 680 convenience retail stores (420 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, built-to-order Specialty Beverages, and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.