JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wawa Inc. is “actively looking for sites" in the Jacksonville, Fla., area, according to a report by The Jacksonville Business Journal.
While Wawa spokesperson Lori Bruce would not confirm exact locations, she told the newspaper that the Pennsylvania-based convenience-store chain's real-estate team was "keen on" Duval, Clay and St. Johns Counties.
Beginning in Orlando, Wawa entered the Sunshine State market in July 2012.
Now with 87 c-stores in Florida and plans for 100 more by 2019, moving into Northeast Florida was a natural step in the chain's continued expansion in the state, Bruce said.
"Jacksonville is a great area,” she said. “It has everything we love about Florida. It's a terrific population, it's on the East Coast which serves well people who move south and know our brand. Florida in general provides us such a wonderful community. We've had an amazing reception.”
The state of Florida has seen record growth in the convenience channel. The number of c-stores increased from 9,737 in 2014 to almost 10,000 in 2015. Florida ranked third among all states according to the 2016 National Association of Convenience Stores/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count.
“The convenience store industry in Florida continues to see incredible growth as more drivers rely on the time-saving ease these stores offer drivers to get food, drinks, supplies and gasoline every day,” said FPMA Executive Director Ned Bowman. “Florida’s economy continues to improve and support our industry, and we’re proud of the work FPMA does each year with state and local government to ensure our state’s convenience stores are more environmentally friendly and safer for employees and customers.”
Wawa, a chain of more than 700 convenience stores (including more than 440 offering gasoline), located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida, is based in Wawa, Pa. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies and specialty beverages, coffee, breakfast sandwiches and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.
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