Dive Brief:

• Wegmans is opening its 100th store and making its North Carolina debut this Sunday, reports New York Upstate, marking Wegmans' entrance into its seventh state in the U.S.
• The 104,000-square-foot store is located in the Midtown East Shopping Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s the first of five additional stores that Wegmans plans to open in the state, with plans for two in Cary and one each in Holly Springs, Chapel Hill and Wake Forest. 
• According to a company press release, the new store will feature 4,000 organic choices, The Burger Bar and extensive prepared foods offerings. The store will have 475 employees.

Dive Insight:

Wegmans' expansion plan has involved staking territory in new regions and states, with the announcement of its North Carolina store following a report that Wegmans would open its first Delaware location by 2022. The grocer is also preparing to open its first New York City location in Brooklyn in October. 

Wegmans currently operates 46 stores in New York, 18 stores in Pennsylvania, nine in New Jersey, 12 in Virginia, eight in Maryland and six in Massachusetts. With the store in Raleigh opening this weekend, that brings the company's store count to a grand total of 100 — a notable milestone for the family-owned grocer. 

While Wegmans' presence in the Northeast is strong, it is looking southward for continued growth, where competition is equally intense. In North Carolina, other retailers with heavy presence include Publix, which recently reported a sales increase of 6.8% in Q2 from the year prior, as well as Harris Teeter, Aldi and Whole Foods. Sprouts Farmers Market is also moving into North Carolina with its first store as part of a 13-store expansion plan on the East Coast.

Wegmans has resonated with customers because of its focus on high-quality food, top-notch customer service and in-store experience. For employees, one of its hallmarks is offering competitive benefits packages, tuition assistance and increased pay for employees who work Sundays and holidays. Wegmans also holds the title of America’s favorite grocery store.

In addition to expanding its physical footprint, Wegmans has also been active in e-commerce innovation. It launched Wegmans Meals 2Go in April in partnership with DoorDash, which it plans to expand to 40 stores by the end of the year. It has also offered delivery through Instacart since 2017 and began rolling out curbside pickup across its stores this year, from Rochester, New York to Charlottesville, Virginia.