Keep Those Shorties Coming: Wawa Adapts to a New Pandemic Lifestyle

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Image via Wawa.com.
Burgers and fries are part of the new dinner offerings on Wawa's menu.

Wawa’s continued expansion and experimentation with its menu and style of delivery are strong indications that they’re capitalizing on our stay-at-home pandemic lifestyle, writes Ashley Gurbal Kritzer for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

For example, in January, 10 months into the pandemic. Wawa debuted its first drive-thru only location in Bucks County.  A second opened a month later in New Jersey.

With the pandemic creating more remote and stay-at-home workers than ever, people developed new habits that accelerated convenience store use.

Wawa’s been able to gain market share as they innovate with curbside pickup and app-based delivery.

“This pandemic has only sped up the importance of the delivery aspect,” said David Conn, executive  vice president in the retailer services group at CBRE Group Inc. “Convenience has maybe changed a little bit in terms of getting the consumer what he wants, when he wants it.”

Gas pump delivery took a back seat to food sales, which explains Wawa’s burger and dinner options.

“In terms of Wawa specifically, they think a lot more like a quick-service restaurant [than a traditional gas station convenience chain],” Conn said.

Read more at Philadelphia Business Journal about the pandemic-fueled growth and innovation at Wawa and other convenience stores.

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