JACKSON, N.J. -- Wawa Inc. on Nov. 22 is celebrating the grand opening of its newest New Jersey store in Jackson. The convenience retailer is using the occasion to officially announce its statewide partnership with the New Jersey Lottery and the addition of offering lottery in all New Jersey Wawa stores.
Wawa will install self-service lottery vending machines in a total of 40 Wawa stores in New Jersey by year end, with a full rollout statewide scheduled by Memorial Day 2014.
The new Wawa will be the 30th Wawa store in the state to have the self-service lottery vending machine installed. It signifies Wawa's commitment to roll out these vending machines to all 210 additional Wawa stores in the Garden State.
The units feature all lottery games, including Powerball, Mega Millions Instant Tickets and Holiday instant games.
Wawa has self-service lottery machines in all 212 Pennsylvania and all 67 Virginia stores. During the past year, contributions as a result of ticket sales in Wawa stores to older Pennsylvanians and Virginia schools have reached more than $37.2 million in Pennsylvania. In New Jersey, Lottery proceeds benefit higher education scholarship programs, school renovations, school nutrition programs, veterans homes and other institutions. In fiscal year 2013 the Lottery's contribution to the state was more than $1 billion.
"We welcome Wawa to our family of business partners as they broaden lottery availability and playing excitement to the public," said Carole Hedinger, executive director of the New Jersey Lottery. "Expanding our reach will assist the Lottery in providing more funding to the state's Lottery beneficiaries."
During the grand opening event, Wawa will be joined by local officials, customers, charitable partners, and community members for a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration of Wawa's milestone customers, history and values. It will also feature a sampling of Wawa products and a charitable Hoagies for Heroes hoagie building competition between the Jackson Mills Firefighters and the Jackson Police Department.
"We couldn't be more excited about opening this new store in Jackson, and adding the excitement of our announcement to expand lottery services to all Wawa NJ customers," said Chris Gheysens, Wawa's president and CEO. "We're thrilled to not only share our unique brand of appetizing convenience throughout the entire state and to
build on our community partnerships, but to continue to innovate and evolve with offerings like the first ever self-serve lottery vending machines. For our New Jersey customers, we are excited to partner with the New Jersey Lottery to 'give their dreams a chance' with this new exciting convenience."
Wawa, based in Wawa, Pa., has more than 625 convenience retail stores (more than 300 offering gasoline), located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia and central 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.
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