Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

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Wegmans is a regional supermarket chain with 112 stores located along the east coast. Founded in 1916 by brothers Walter and John Wegman, the company is still owned and operated by the Wegman family and employs almost 55,000 people.

What inspired the founding of your company, and what was its original mission?

In 1916, brothers John and Walter Wegman became produce pushcart peddlers with a mission to bring fresh produce to the community. In 1930, the two brothers made national headlines when they opened a 20,000-square-foot store — gigantic by standards of the day — with eye-popping innovations like vaporized water spray to keep produce crisp and a cafeteria that seated 300.

What were the most significant milestones or turning points in the company’s 50+ years in business?

1930: John & Walter Wegman open 20,000 square foot store; 1950: Robert Wegman becomes president, chairman in 1969; 1976: Danny Wegman becomes president, CEO in 2005, chairman in 2017; 2002: Colleen Wegman becomes Sr. VP of Merchandising, President in 2005, then CEO in 2017; 2005: Wegmans is ranked #1 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list; 2008: Nicole Wegman becomes VP, Sr. VP in 2021 and President of Wegmans Brand in 2021; 2016: Wegmans celebrates 100 years in business.

How have your core values and vision influenced the way your company operates?

Our values are the foundation of our relationship with our employees. They include: caring, respect, empowerment, high standards, and making a difference in the community. Our mission is to help people live healthier, better lives through exceptional food, but we have always believed we can achieve our goals only if we first fulfill the needs of our people.

How has your company adapted to industry changes or economic challenges over the years?

Building on what the first generation of Wegmans created, the next three generations worked to raise the bar in all areas of the business: opening new and better stores with more products and services, making the company a great place to work, and investing in technology to improve service, save time, and better serve our customers.

What’s unique about your workplace culture that has contributed to your longevity?

The Wegman family has always believed that great customer service can only be achieved if they first meet the needs of their employees. Pay, benefits, and career development opportunities at Wegmans outpace industry averages, and the employee turnover rate at the company is about half the average for the supermarket industry. Employees can also take advantage of Wegmans employee scholarship program, which has awarded $145 million to over 46,500 employees since 1984.

What role does community engagement or corporate social responsibility play in your business?

Making a difference in every community we serve is part of who we are. Through our support of community organizations, we share a goal of cultivating healthy, thriving communities. We do this by focusing our efforts on key areas where we can have the greatest impact — health, education and youth support, and economic mobility. Through corporate gifts and food donations, weekly employee United Way donations, and our annual customer scanning campaigns, together we contributed $96.5 million in 2024.

What are the key factors that have contributed to your company’s ability to stay competitive?

At Wegmans, we believe that good people, working toward a common goal, can accomplish anything they set out to do. Our goal is to be the very best at serving the needs of our customers, and every action we take is made with this in mind. We believe that we can only achieve this goal if we first fulfill the needs of our own people. That’s why we pledge continuous improvement to our customers and our people, and we make the unwavering commitment: Every Day You Get Our Best.