The Wawa Way: How a Funny Name and Six Core Values Revolutionized Convenience

by Howard Stoeckel Narrated by Dana Hickox

Overview

Grahame Wood opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for Wawa dairy products. Since then, the convenience store has grown into a well-known company that competes against the biggest industry players in the world in three areas: fuel, convenience, and food, all while maintaining their personal approach and small business mentality. Now, almost 50 years later, Wawa has opened its first store in Florida and begun to play on the national field. How did it happen? What are the reasons for their success? Why have they been able to go up against the big guys with nothing more than homegrown talent? With a mixture of personal history and business advice, Howard Stoeckel shares the last 50 years of Wawa's growth, development, and expansion. It's the story of how a small company with a funny name made a big difference and all it took was a little goose sense.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 04/21/2014
Wawa stores, found in the mid-Atlantic states and Florida, inspire impressive customer loyalty. Recently retired Wawa CEO Stoeckel, writing with Andelman, pays fond tribute to this unique organization in a lively history that marks the company's 50th anniversary. Part convenience store, part restaurant, Wawa occupies a unique space in the market, with core values that can inspire any organization. From valuing people and delighting customers, to doing the right thing, and embracing change, these principles are less a corporate dictate and more a way of life. How Wawa operates flies in the face of common corporate practices, from their servant leadership model to their ownership structure, which consists of private ownership and shared ownership among the founding family and employees. In chronicles of the up's and down's of the company, what emerges is the organization's commitment to staff and customers. Corporate histories are seldom engrossing and even less frequently do they touch an emotional chord, but that's exactly what the books does. Wawa fans, and general business readers, will relish this empowering story. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

"Corporate histories are seldom engrossing and even less frequently do they touch an emotional chord, but that's exactly what the books does. Wawa fans, and general business readers, will relish this empowering story."
—Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

"The cult of Wawa lives on...The company's six core values and a leadership style focusing on employee ownership with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility are major topics. Written in a light, conversational tone, though, this is a quick, engaging read. VERDICT A must-have for Wawa devotees and recommended for others interested in a behind-the-scenes look at an East Coast retailing legend."
—Library Journal

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170404933
Publisher:	Ascent Audio
Publication date:	05/01/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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