Wawa Targets "Most Aggressive Growth" In Company's History With Huge Push South

Convenience store Wawa is looking to spread its wings and officially fly south for the winter - and the rest of the seasons.

The popular Philadelphia-area based chain - whose owners are now reportedly worth upwards of $6 billion, according to Bloomberg - has plans to add locations in every state.

Spokesperson Lori Bruce - best known recently for trying to spin reasons as to why the chain was closing numerous Center City Philadelphia locations amidst incessant crime - commented: “We can’t wait to share our unique Wawa offer and experience with the new communities we’ve announced and look forward to serving them in the future very soon!”

The company plans on moving to the South and Midwest, with plans to open in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia.

It'll also open 160 new stores in locations like Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote last week. 

Wawa calls itself a "privately held, family-owned company with 200+ years in American business." Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C., its website says. 

Company CEO Chris Gheysens detailed the company's plans to open about 100 new stores every year, with an eye on having 2,000 stores by the year 2030. He is calling it "the most aggressive growth" in the company's history. 

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is tracking the store's owners for the first time. The Wood family, who owns 53% of the company, is worth about $6 billion, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg also estimated the chain did about $18.5 billion in sales in 2023.