Wegmans Food Markets

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Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Type Private
Founded 1916 (1916)
Headquarters Rochester, New York, U.S.
Key people Danny Wegman, Chairman and CEO
Colleen Wegman, President
Industry Retail (Grocery)
Revenue ▲$4.8 billion (2008)[1][2]
Employees 38,000 (2009)
Website www.wegmans.com

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a privately held 75-store U.S. regional supermarket chain with stores in the mid-Atlantic region, including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Founded in 1916 in Rochester, NY, Wegmans has appeared on Fortune's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list since its inception in 1998, and has ranked among the top 10 for eight consecutive years.[3] Food Network recognized it with its award for Best Grocery Store in 2007,[4] and Consumer Reports ranked it the top large grocery chain in the United States in 2009.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

Wegmans is a privately owned company, founded in 1916 by John and Walter Wegman. The original name was the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company. Wegmans is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Danny Wegman is CEO. His daughter Colleen Wegman is president, and his other daughter, Nicole Wegman, is vice-president of restaurant operations. His father Robert Wegman, who died on April 20, 2006, was chairman. Robert was the son of co-founder Walter Wegman. During his life Robert Wegman distinguished himself as a pioneer in the retail food business, as well as a generous donor to educational institutions and other charities.[6][7]

In 1968 the chain expanded outside the Rochester area for the first time with a store in Syracuse,[8] and again in 1977 with its first Buffalo store.[8] The first store outside New York state opened in 1993 in Erie, Pennsylvania[8]and the expansion continued into New Jersey in 1999,[8], Virginia in 2004, and Maryland in 2005.[8][9] Wegmans has plans to expand into Massachusetts,[10][11] although no official date for an opening has been given.

[edit] Operations

Exterior of a typical Wegmans, in the style common in the late 1990s.

In 2009 Wegmans ranked number 29 on the Supermarket News list of the Top 75 North American Food Retailers based on sales volume,[12] up from number 32 on the 2007 Supermarket News list,[2] and 7th among privately held U.S. supermarkets.[citation needed] In 2009 Stores Magazine showed it to be the 74th largest retailer in the United States with estimated revenues of $4.67 billion[13] As of 2006, it was the 66th largest privately held company, as determined by Forbes [14]. On Forbes's 2005 list, Wegmans ranked 54th.[15]

Most of Wegmans' newer stores are of the "superstore" or "megamarket" type, with a very large area, a large variety of foods aimed at an upscale market, and in many stores, Market Café in-store dining areas. The company also used to own and operate Tastings, a restaurant at its Pittsford, New York, store that offered diners three distinct eating areas, helping to make the Pittsford Wegmans largest of all (until the Columbia, MD Wegmans opens in 2011). In January 2007, Wegmans announced two new business ventures: (1) plans to open a 19,000 sq ft (1,800 m2) liquor store in Pittsford (adding to its two existing wine centers in Virginia and New Jersey); and (2) the creation of a US$28 million "Culinary Innovation Center" (in Chili, New York), a corporate research and development facility that will house a new central kitchen (replacing some of the current operations at its meat center).[16] The liquor store opened in April 2008 under the name of Century Pittsford Wines. It is not owned by the company, but is independently owned by Nicole Wegman due to New York State liquor laws. The store is 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2) [17][18]

[edit] Chase-Pitkin Home and Garden Centers

Wegmans was the parent company of Chase-Pitkin, a regional home improvement retailer. On October 4, 2005, Wegmans announced that it would close all Chase-Pitkin stores by early 2006[19] and focus instead on its highly successful supermarket operations. The decision to exit the home improvement business was reportedly due to the increasing dominance of national chains such as The Home Depot and Lowe's.[19] Chase-Pitkin stores closed individually at various points throughout March 2006.

[edit] Tobacco Products

In January of 2008, Wegmans announced that they would no longer sell tobacco products [20] and would offer smoking cessation programs to all employees.[21] The decision drew praise from the American Lung Association of New York State, who presented Wegmans with the "Lung Champion Award".[21]

[edit] Wegmans brand

A Wegmans store in Manalapan, New Jersey

Wegmans began branding their own products in 1979 offering basic commodities with a lower price than the national brands and high quality. This price/value relationship for the customer was the beginning of a brand that has evolved to offering products unavailable anywhere else. The house brand/line prior to "Wegmans" was "Staff."[citation needed]

As the brand growth continued it soon branched out. In 1992, it started offering a line of health products called "Food You Feel Good About." The next sub-brand to be launched was "Italian Classics." In 1995 Wegmans introduced its imported pastas, canned tomatoes, olive oils, etc. Many of the products are sourced from Italy. In 2002, Wegmans launched its own line of organic products.

The Wegmans House Brand has been used extensively in the American sitcom The Office which is set in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania which does in fact have a Wegmans store.[22][23]

[edit] Locations

Question book-new.svg
 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010)

[edit] Maryland

1 location, with others in development or under construction:[24]

[edit] New Jersey

7 locations:

[edit] New York

48 locations:

[edit] Pennsylvania

13 locations:

Under Construction:

[edit] Virginia

6 locations and 1 under construction:

[edit] Massachusetts

Two locations have so far been proposed. No opening dates have been confirmed:

[edit] Company facts

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (March 2009)
  • In October 2009, Wegmans opened The Pub, which is being tested at the new Collegeville and the soon to open Malvern, PA store. The restaurant offers beer, wine and seasonal specialties featured in Menu Magazine. If the concept is well received, it may be added to additional stores in the future.
  • In 2007 Wegmans opened a Tea Bar in its Pittsford NY store, featuring brewed tea by the pot as well as bulk sales of several dozen varieties of loose tea.
  • In 2007, a Seafood Bar and Grill were opened in the Pittsford NY store, each featuring its respective types of food, seafood and grilled food. In 2008, these two separate areas were combined into the Food Bar.
  • In March 2007, Wegmans was ranked No. 5 in the BusinessWeek Top 25 list of "Customer Service Champs".[25]
  • Consumer Reports magazine ranked the chain as number one in its survey of the top 54 supermarkets in the United States for 2006.[26] It was ranked number one again in 2009.[27][5]
  • Wegmans donated over 14 million lb (6,000 t) of food (350 tractor trailers) to local food banks and food pantries in 2004.[28]
  • Wegmans has been a long time sponsor of the Rochester Wegmans LPGA tournament,[29] and is the new sponsor of the LPGA Championship,[30] which is replacing the Wegmans LPGA.
  • On May 15, 2007 Wegmans was named one of the most ethical companies in the United States by Ethisphere Magazine.[31]
  • Wegmans received the 2009 Corporate Stewardship Award from the United States Chamber of Commerce for "the supermarket chain’s ongoing efforts to assist food banks in all of their market areas."[32]
  • Wegmans received a number 3 spot on Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For".[33]

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.hoovers.com/company/Wegmans_Food_Markets_Inc/cfhtji-1.html
  2. ^ a b 2007 Top 75 North American Food Retailers, Supermarket News, Last accessed February 24, 2007.[dead link]
  3. ^ Perry, Kate (2009-01-22). "Wegmans, Paychex make Fortune list of best employers". Democrat and Chronicle. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090122/BUSINESS/90122013. Retrieved 2009-01-22. [dead link]
  4. ^ Wegmans (2007-04-16). "And the Winner is Wegmans!". Press release. https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=399613. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  5. ^ a b http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090407/BUSINESS/904070313&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL[dead link]
  6. ^ "Dining, cooking, and travel themes of food chain’s new magazine". Valley News. http://www.valleynewsonline.com/news/2001/0203/Business_News/02.html. Retrieved 2008-01-12. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Robert Wegman, 87, Leader in Supermarket Innovations, Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2006-04-22. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/22/business/22wegman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. 
  8. ^ a b c d e "History". Wegmans. http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=256611&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1. Retrieved 2010-01-01. 
  9. ^ [www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=281152&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1 "Wegmans Company Overview"]. www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=281152&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1. 
  10. ^ a b "Westwood OKs liquor license for proposed Wegmans". The Patriot Ledger. 2008-05-07. http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1485832690/Westwood-OKs-liquor-license-for-proposed-Wegmans. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  11. ^ a b Abby Jordan (2009-01-27). "The Loop in Northborough in the market for a Wegmans". The MetroWest Daily News. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1198800850/The-Loop-in-Northborough-in-the-market-for-a-Wegmans. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  12. ^ "SN's Top 75 Retailers for 2009". Supermarket News. http://supermarketnews.com/profiles/top75/2009-top-75/index1.html. Retrieved 2010-01-05. 
  13. ^ "Stores Top 100 Retailers". Stores.org. July, 2009. http://www.stores.org/pdf/09Top100chart.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-05. 
  14. ^ "#66 Wegmans Food Markets". Forbes. 2006-11-09. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/21/biz_06privates_Wegmans-Food-Markets_MGF0.html. Retrieved 2010-01-05. 
  15. ^ "America's Largest Private Companies". Forbes. November 11, 2005. http://www.forbes.com/2005/11/09/largest-private-companies_05private_land.html. Retrieved 16 November 2006. 
  16. ^ Rand, Ben (January 6, 2007). "Wegmans embarks on 2 local projects". Democrat and Chronicle. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070106/BUSINESS/701060306. Retrieved 2007-01-06. [dead link]
  17. ^ "Pittsford Plaza - Century Pittsford Wines run independently of Wegmans". http://www.pittsfordplaza.com/News/Article.aspx?id=176. Retrieved 2008-06-13. [dead link]
  18. ^ "Rundown of New York State liquor laws prohibiting wine and liquor sales in grocery stores". http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/food-stores/4478555-1.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  19. ^ a b "Wegmans to close all Chase-Pitkins". auburnpub.com. 2005-10-05. http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2005/10/05/news/local_news/news07.txt. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  20. ^ James Fink (2008-01-04). "Wegmans ceasing tobacco sales". Baltimore Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/12/31/daily30.html. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  21. ^ a b "Wegmans, DeCicco Markets Ditch Cigarettes". consumeraffairs.com. 2008-06-02. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/06/stores_tobacco.html. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  22. ^ Fien, Christine Carrie (2007-03-07). "TV SCENE: Wegmans checks in at 'The Office'". City Newspaper. http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/TV+SCENE:+Wegmans+checks+in+at++The+Office+/. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 
  23. ^ "Wegmans Locator Detail for Scranton, PA". Wegmans. http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=347976. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 
  24. ^ "Where will Wegmans be building new stores in the future?". Wegmans. http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FAQDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&faqCategory=AboutWegmans#question_11. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  25. ^ "Customer Service Champs", BusinessWeek. March 5, 2007.
  26. ^ "Wegmans rated tops in Consumer Reports.", MSNBC. September 1, 2006. Last accessed on September 1, 2006.[dead link]
  27. ^ "Another Wegmans sighting in the Capital Region". Albany Times Union. 2010-01-07. http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=886064. Retrieved 2010-01-13. 
  28. ^ "Wegmans Community Events". http://www.wegmans.com/about/community/calendar/southern.asp#foodbank. Retrieved 2007-05-11. [dead link]
  29. ^ Steve Popper. "GOLF; Pak Manages to Maintain Her Lead and Her Composure". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/17/sports/golf-pak-manages-to-maintain-her-lead-and-her-composure.html. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  30. ^ "LPGA releases 2010 schedule". UPI. 2009-11-18. http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/11/18/LPGA-releases-2010-schedule/UPI-82521258565616/. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  31. ^ Ethisphere Magazine (2007). "2007 World's Most Ethical Companies". Press release. http://www.ethisphere.com/Ethisphere_Magazine_0207/WME-2007-Q2. Retrieved 2007-05-20. 
  32. ^ "Wegmans honored by U.S. Chamber". bizjournals.com. 2009-12-02. http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20091202&id=10793898. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  33. ^ "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010: Wegmans Food Markets - from FORTUNE". money.cnn.com. 2010-01-25. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2010/snapshots/3.html. Retrieved 2010-01-25. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wegmans_Food_Markets"