Buzz
In a 2019 Consumer Reports survey ranking the top grocery store chains in the U.S., Wegmans secured an impressive second place, trailing only Central Market from Texas. The Rochester-based supermarket chain was praised for its fresh produce, extensive organic options, and spotless facilities. As a privately held, family-run business, Wegmans operates 99 stores across the mid-Atlantic region and is widely celebrated for its exceptional employee treatment. Here are some intriguing details to consider during your next visit to one of their expansive stores.
1. Wegmans was a giant even back in the 1930s.
Wegmans
While many believe mega-markets are a modern phenomenon, with small family-owned stores dominating the 20th century, the Wegman brothers, John and Walter, defied this notion in the 1920s. They rapidly expanded their grocery business, eventually opening a massive 20,000-square-foot store complete with a 300-seat cafeteria. (Today, their stores span an impressive 75,000 to 140,000 square feet.)
2. Wegmans once hosted their own TV show.
During the 1950s, Wegmans introduced a unique promotional tactic by distributing novelty currency as part of customers' change. This fake money could be used on a regional TV show titled Dollar Derby, where audience members bid on items using the counterfeit cash. (Naturally, attempting to use such currency at Wegmans today would be against the law.)
3. Securing a job at Wegmans might be tougher than getting into Harvard.
Wegmans
The launch of a new Wegmans store often sparks overwhelming job application interest, far surpassing the number of available roles. For instance, in 2013, a Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania location garnered 10,000 applications for just 500 positions, resulting in a 5% acceptance rate—slightly lower than Harvard's 5.8% undergraduate acceptance rate.
4. The arrival of a new Wegmans store doesn’t always bring universal joy.
Although Wegmans receives countless requests to open stores in new areas, their expansion isn’t always met with enthusiasm. A store in Abingdon, Maryland, for example, caused significant traffic congestion as customer influx overwhelmed nearby roads. Additionally, a local ShopRite chain accused Wegmans of unfair competition after the latter published misleading price comparison ads in regional newspapers.
5. Wegmans is well aware of the missing apostrophe in its name.
Wegmans
Media outlets occasionally misspell "Wegmans" as "Wegman’s," which might seem more grammatically correct. However, the company dropped the apostrophe in 1931 to streamline its logo. Reintroducing the punctuation mark would be a costly endeavor, with estimates suggesting it would require $500,000 to update all store signage.
6. Wegmans offers scholarships to its employees.
The cheerful demeanor of Wegmans staff might stem from the company’s generous benefits. Since 1984, Wegmans has awarded $120 million in scholarships to more than 38,500 employees. Eligibility is determined by academic records, job performance, and tenure, with recipients receiving up to $8800 over four years for educational expenses.
7. A musical was once created about Wegmans.
Whether out of whimsy or genuine admiration, high school students in Northborough, Massachusetts, celebrated the opening of a Wegmans by crafting a musical inspired by the chain. The production featured two brothers employed by competing grocery stores—Wegmans and Acme. An Acme spy sent to undermine Wegmans ends up enamored with it. The 90-minute performance included cheese-themed songs, with Wegmans contributing carts, signs, and chef’s hats as props. (The school kept all items except the carts.)
8. Wegmans once ventured into the hardware store business.
In 1973, Wegmans decided to expand its expertise into the hardware industry, opening its first store in Rochester under the name Chase-Pitkin. Additional locations followed, but by 2005, the chain couldn’t compete with the rapid growth of Lowe’s and Home Depot, leading to the closure of all stores.
9. Wegmans features a store designed exclusively for children.
The Strong, Rochester, NY
At the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, children can explore a miniature Wegmans stocked with pretend groceries. This interactive exhibit lets kids step behind the counter to role-play as sushi chefs or cashiers. A similar setup has also been introduced at the Smithsonian.
10. The freshness of Wegmans' produce is no accident.
The superior quality and taste of Wegmans' produce compared to other local markets isn’t just perception. According to the Strategic Resource Group, Wegmans replenishes its produce stock 100 times annually, far exceeding the 18 to 20 turnovers typical of most supermarkets. This ensures that items rarely linger long enough to spoil.
11. Wegmans operates its own cheese caves.
Wegmans
With over 300 varieties of fine, aged cheeses in their fresh food section, Wegmans took a unique step in 2014 by constructing cheese caves near Rochester. These climate-controlled facilities mimic the aging processes used by European cheese producers, complete with a dedicated room for brie.
12. Wegmans once received an exceptionally rare yellow lobster.
In July 2011, a Wegmans store in Pittsford, New York, received an extraordinary addition to its seafood shipment: a rare yellow lobster, a genetic anomaly occurring in just one out of 30 million lobsters. Instead of selling it, the store generously donated it to a nearby aquarium.
13. Wegmans shares a unique bond with the Baldwin family.
During a 2010 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, Alec Baldwin revealed his mother Carol’s deep affection for Wegmans, stating she refused to move to the West Coast due to the absence of Wegmans stores. The company found the story endearing and featured both Alec and Carol in a series of TV ads. However, after Baldwin’s highly publicized altercation on an American Airlines flight in late 2011, Wegmans initially pulled the ads, citing it as the best decision. A week later, they apologized to Baldwin and reinstated the commercials.
14. A Wegmans store once featured a wine-dispensing vending machine.
Pioneering innovative retail experiences, Wegmans introduced a wine vending machine in their Allentown, Pennsylvania, store in 2011. Customers could purchase a glass of wine for $6 to $10, depending on the type (red or white) and size (2.5 or 5 ounces). Despite its novelty, the machine was eventually removed due to frequent technical issues and the cumbersome requirement for customers to scan their driver’s license and pass a breathalyzer test before purchasing.
15. Walgreens took legal action against Wegmans over the "W" logo.
CanMuseum.com
In a legal dispute over branding, Walgreens sued Wegmans in 2011, alleging that the latter’s "W" logo too closely resembled their own. Wegmans adopted the script-style lettering in 2008, claiming it was inspired by 1930s promotional materials. In 2012, they agreed to discontinue using the single-letter logo but retained the right to use the script style as part of their full brand name.
16. Dedicated Wegmans fans sometimes camp out for new store openings.
In 2010, three friends—Nadine Bailey-Joyner, Paula Hopson-Stanley, and Susan Myers—made the decision to camp outside a newly opening Wegmans in Lanham, Maryland. They were later joined by Jill Green, Kim Harris, and Patricia Harrelson, forming the Women of Wegmans, a passionate group of superfans. As of March 2018, the group had attended nine store openings across four states, camping out overnight each time. Their enthusiasm stems from the store’s diverse offerings and welcoming atmosphere.
