Wegmans Celebrates 100th Anniversary
To kick off its 100th anniversary this year, Wegmans Food Markets plans to throw a chain-wide party.
On Saturday, Jan. 30, all of the Rochester, N.Y.-based retailer’s stores will unveil a plaque with a portrait of late company head Robert Wegman at each entrance; present a celebratory cake, uniquely created at each location, for customers and employees; be staffed by associates sporting 100th Anniversary uniform shirts; offer a special edition of the grocer’s Menu magazine; and provide tastings throughout the departments.
A specially designed anniversary logo (above), which is featured on the new uniform shirts, will also appear on a new Wegmans reusable bag, a reusable coffee mug and a Wegmans gift card.
Through a century of business, the company has striven to remain true to its values. “As we reflect on how we got here, we remember a simple rule that my dad [Robert] taught us: ‘Never think of yourself; always help others.’” wrote CEO Danny Wegman in a letter published in the anniversary edition of Menu.
Founded in 1916 by brothers John and Walter Wegman, the company was eventually taken over by Walter’s son Robert, who ran it from 1950 until his death in 2006. Currently, third- and fourth-generation family members head the company. In addition to Danny Wegman, his daughters Colleen and Nicole are president and SVP of perishable foods and wine, respectively.
Wegmans operates 88 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts, and employs nearly 46,000 associates.