How Wawa Started

Wawa began as a dairy business founded by George Wood in 1902 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Wood, who had moved from New Jersey and was already involved in textiles, purchased land and several dairy farms near what is now the Wawa train station. He established the Wawa Dairy, named after the local area, and focused on producing high-quality milk from certified Guernsey cows. At a time when milk safety was a concern, Wood had doctors certify his milk as sanitary, which helped build consumer trust and allowed the dairy to thrive.

For decades, Wawa Dairy delivered milk directly to homes in the Philadelphia region, using the slogan “Buy Health by the Bottle.” The dairy earned a reputation for quality and cleanliness, which contributed to its success.

The land became Wawa Preserve in 1973 when George Wood’s youngest daughter gifted a portion of the family’s “Home Farm” to Natural Lands.

The First Wawa Convenience Store

By the early 1960s, consumer habits shifted: people began buying milk in stores rather than through home delivery. To adapt, George Wood’s grandson, Grahame Wood, opened the first Wawa Food Market on April 16, 1964, at 1212 MacDade Boulevard in Folsom, Pennsylvania. The new store provided an outlet for Wawa’s dairy products and embraced the emerging convenience store model, offering a wider range of foods and longer hours than traditional supermarkets.

From there, Wawa rapidly expanded:

• 1968–1969: First stores opened in New Jersey and Delaware, and Wawa Kitchens were offering foods like hamburgers and fried chicken.
• 1970s: Introduction of pre-made hoagies and other fresh foods; stores began operating 24/7. Wawa was touting a new slogan, “People on the Go – Go to Wawa Food Markets.”
• 1980s–1990s: Innovations like separating the deli from the checkout, launching the Shorti Hoagie, and installing ATMs. The now famous Built-to-Order® hoagies, followed by hot foods, like meatballs, debuted that same year. Wawa also won the “Best of Philly” award for coffee and deli throughout the ’80s.
• 1996: First Wawa with fuel pumps opened in Millsboro, DE.
• 2002: Touch-screen ordering kiosks introduced.
• 2004s-2006s: 2004 had every fan saying the new campaign slogan “Gottahava Wawa,” and the organization’s charitable giving topped $5.6 million by 2006.
• 2010s-2012s: Wawa expanded its Built-to-Order® food and beverage offering significantly with Smoothies, Frozen Cappuccinos, and Specialty Drinks like lattes, macchiatos, and hot chocolates
• 2012: Expansion into Florida.
• 2014s-2017s: Wawa found new ways to give back, too. The Wawa Foundation launched in 2014, with a focus on supporting causes related to health, hunger, and everyday heroes. The Wawa Foundation & Wawa announced The Wawa Volunteer Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In 2017, Wawa raised $1.5 million for the American Red Cross to go toward hurricane relief.
• 2020: In 2020 Wawa saw a whole new path to convenience open up at Wawa, with Delivery & Curbside Pickup launching nationwide.
• 2021: In 2021, Wawa followed that with a historic launch of the Dinner menu, with the Wawa Burger, Wawa Pizza, and other items arriving on the scene for the first time.

Today, Wawa is a major privately held convenience store chain with hundreds of locations across multiple states, known for its fresh food, coffee, and continued commitment to convenience and innovation.

Summary

Wawa started as a dairy farm in 1902, evolved into a convenience store in 1964 in response to changing consumer habits, and has since grown into a beloved regional chain by continually adapting its offerings and business model.