McLane Company Expands Strategic Partnership with Wawa to Fuel Continued Growth Across Midwest and East Coast
In a significant move to accelerate growth and reinforce operational excellence, McLane Company, Inc., one of America’s largest supply chain services leaders, has announced the expansion of its long-standing partnership with Wawa, Inc., a beloved convenience retail and foodservice chain renowned for its customer-centric philosophy and innovative offerings. This strengthened collaboration aims to support Wawa’s aggressive expansion plans across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions of the United States.
As part of this renewed partnership, McLane’s Bluegrass distribution center in Hebron, Kentucky, will take on a pivotal role by servicing Wawa’s newly opened and upcoming stores in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. These states represent a significant growth frontier for Wawa, which has been expanding its footprint steadily beyond its traditional East Coast strongholds.
“We’re proud to have served as a dedicated partner alongside Wawa over the years,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s Chief Customer Experience Officer. “With this expanded partnership, we remain committed to supporting Wawa’s growth as a leader in convenience retail and foodservice through our robust network and product offerings.”
A Partnership Two Decades in the Making
The relationship between McLane and Wawa is not new — in fact, it is built on more than 20 years of close collaboration. Over the years, the two companies have evolved together, adapting to changing consumer behaviors, technological advancements, and the growing demand for high-quality, on-the-go food and beverage options.
Today, McLane services more than 1,100 Wawa locations through its strategically located distribution centers across the country, including facilities in Kentucky, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida. These hubs form a core component of McLane’s national supply chain network, which includes over 80 distribution centers nationwide. This infrastructure allows McLane to deliver consistent, reliable service to retail and foodservice partners of all sizes, including powerhouse brands like Wawa.
The Fredericksburg, Virginia distribution center — part of McLane’s Mid-Atlantic operations — began servicing Wawa’s East Coast stores in the fall of 2024, as part of a proactive strategy to support the retailer’s growing footprint. With additional support now coming from the Hebron, Kentucky center, Wawa is better positioned than ever to ensure seamless logistics, faster deliveries, and optimized inventory replenishment as it ventures deeper into new markets.
Supporting Wawa’s Vision of Modern Convenience Retail
Wawa, originally founded in 1964, has long been at the forefront of redefining convenience retail. The company built its brand around a vision that transcended the traditional convenience store model — emphasizing fresh food, friendly service, and value. From handcrafted hoagies to specialty coffee, made-to-order salads, and an expanding menu of hot food options, Wawa has successfully combined the speed and accessibility of convenience retail with the culinary quality of a fast-casual restaurant.
“It’s been 60 years since our first store opened, and our vision then was a new kind of convenience store — one that fulfills lives by providing customers with fast, friendly service and fresh products that deliver value,” said Brian Schaller, President of Wawa. “As Wawa expands into new markets, our partnership with partners like McLane helps us scale our best-in-class foodservice program, support our growth and fulfill our commitment to delighting customers.”
Scalability, Speed, and Supply Chain Precision
For Wawa to continue executing its vision across a wider geographic area, it needs a supply chain partner capable of meeting its high standards for freshness, efficiency, and service consistency. That’s where McLane’s value proposition becomes especially compelling.
With its deep logistics expertise, cutting-edge technology investments, and expansive fleet, McLane is well-equipped to provide tailored supply chain solutions that match the complexity of Wawa’s operations. By utilizing advanced data analytics, route optimization algorithms, and real-time inventory tracking, McLane ensures that Wawa locations — whether in rural Ohio or urban New Jersey — receive the products they need, precisely when they need them.
In addition to increasing order accuracy and reducing lead times, McLane’s capabilities also include cold chain logistics, a critical factor for maintaining food quality and safety. This is especially important for Wawa’s expanding menu of perishable offerings, which now includes everything from protein boxes and fruit cups to fresh bakery items and premium dairy beverages.
“Our goal is to enable partners like Wawa to grow confidently in new regions by ensuring operational excellence and eliminating logistical friction,” Maurici added. “From warehouse to storefront, we’re focused on delivering value at every stage of the supply chain.”
Meeting Rising Consumer Demand for Freshness and Innovation
The convenience retail landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade. Modern consumers now demand far more than just fuel, snacks, and lottery tickets from convenience stores. They want fresh, health-conscious options, quick meal solutions, and a digitally integrated experience that fits seamlessly into their on-the-go lifestyles.
Wawa has embraced this evolution wholeheartedly, becoming a leader in retail foodservice with a reputation for quality, customization, and speed. As a result, Wawa’s foodservice business continues to grow at a pace that outstrips many traditional convenience retailers.
McLane’s role in enabling this growth cannot be overstated. By delivering a diverse assortment of fresh and shelf-stable products, maintaining rigorous safety protocols, and adapting quickly to Wawa’s evolving menu needs, McLane is helping Wawa stay ahead of the curve and continue delighting customers across multiple states.
Looking Ahead: Building for the Future
With plans for dozens of new stores in the pipeline and a broader geographic strategy in place, Wawa’s future looks bright — and McLane will remain a critical partner every step of the way.
The companies’ shared values — commitment to quality, operational excellence, customer service, and innovation — have made this partnership one of the most enduring and productive in the convenience retail sector.
As Wawa enters the next chapter of its ambitious expansion journey, McLane will continue to provide the logistical muscle and strategic support required to keep shelves stocked, fridges filled, and customers satisfied — from the Mid-Atlantic heartland to the Midwest frontier.
About McLane
Founded in 1894, McLane Company Inc. is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. As an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant businesses, McLane buys, sells, delivers, and serves the world’s most beloved brands. With headquarters in Temple, Texas, McLane has more than 80 distribution centers across the country, employs more than 25,000 teammates, and delivers to nearly every zip code in the US. McLane is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.