Growth for Vallarta and H-E-B, streamlining at Stop & Shop also made news this week
Welcome to The Friday 5, Progressive Grocer’s weekly roundup of the top news and trends in the food retail industry. Each Friday, we’ll take a look at the stories that are most important to our readers and also keep tabs on the trends that are poised to impact grocers.
1. Wawa Goes Big in North Carolina
PG readers were most interested this week in news that convenience store chain Wawa will open its first travel center, in Hope Mills, Cumberland County, N.C., on Aug. 28. The more than 8,000-square-foot travel center will offer Wawa’s signature fresh food and beverage items, fuel for passenger vehicles and a high-speed diesel fuel court for the needs of professional tractor-trailer drivers.
“We are thrilled to pilot this new format in Hope Mills and believe this new travel center model is a great way to bring Wawa to customers while serving a need to the travelers,” said John Poplawski, Wawa chief real estate officer…