Since its beginning in 1916 selling fruits and vegetables from a cart in Rochester, Wegmans has been a part of many families.
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Here is a look at how the company developed and the grocer’s storied history.
1916
John Wegman opens the Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Co. His brother, Walter, joins him as a fresh produce pushcart peddler a year later.
1918
Robert B. Wegman is born at his grandparents’ home in Rochester.
1930
Wegmans opens a 20,000-square-foot Clinton Avenue “showplace” store with cafeteria seating for 300.
1932
Wegmans introduces refrigerated display windows and vaporized water sprays to keep produce fresh.
1934
Wegmans runs a catering service and cooking school from its East Main Street store.
1936
Wegmans opens its seventh store on Monroe Avenue, just east of Goodman Street.
1937
Robert Wegman joins the company before he even turns 20.
1940
The first frozen, then known as “frosted,” foods appear at Wegmans.
1941
The company opens its ninth — and first suburban — store at 1910 Monroe Ave. in the Twelve Corners Shopping Center.
1947
Current Wegmans Chief Executive Officer Danny Wegman is born in Rochester.
1949
Robert Wegman converts the company’s stores to self-service format.
1950
Robert Wegman becomes president of the company and raises all salaries.
1957
Wegmans opens its first store outside Monroe County in Newark Plaza, Wayne County.
1959
Wegmans opens a semi-automated Central Bakeshop on Brooks Avenue. The facility still supplies stores today.
1959
The 26,000-square-foot store in Ridgemont Plaza in Greece opens.
1964
Third-generation family member Danny Wegman joins company.
1967
Robert Wegman writes his “I am a Merchant” speech, which becomes framework for company’s success.
1968
Wegmans opens its first store in Syracuse. It is the 27th store for the company.
1969
Robert Wegman becomes chairman of company. Danny Wegman earns economics degree with honors from Harvard University and is named a store manager.
1971
Colleen Wegman, who is now president of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., is born in Rochester.
1971
Wegmans becomes the first supermarket chain in New York to offer 24-hour service in some stores.
1972
The first Wegmans Pharmacy opens at the Lyell Avenue store.
1974
Nicole Wegman, who is the company’s senior vice president, is born in Rochester.
1974
Wegmans becomes the first grocery chain in New York and third in North America to begin using a laser scanning checkout system to read UPCs.
1974
Wegmans also opens its first seafood department and acquires Bilt Rite Chase Pitkin.
1976
Danny Wegman named president of Wegmans Food Markets.
1977
The first Wegmans market in the Buffalo area opens in January 1977.
1979
Wegmans brand products are introduced across the chain.
1981
Robert Wegman receives the Sidney Rabb Award, the Food Marketing Institute’s highest membership honor.
1984
The Wegmans Employee Scholarship Program is created. More than $100 million has been awarded since it began.
1987
Wegmans Work Scholarship Connection is formed to assist urban youth. The program later becomes Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.
1989
Nicole Wegman joins company.
1990
Wegmans introduces Shoppers Club program with discounts on products throughout the store.
1991
Colleen Wegman joins company.
1992
Wegmans opens its first Market Cafe at its Corning store (24 South Bridge St).
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1992
The Wegmans “Food You Feel Good About” program debuts.
1993
Wegmans begins Check Out Hunger to raise money for hunger relief.
1993
Wegmans opens its first out-of-state market in Erie, Pennsylvania.
1994
Colleen Wegman graduates from University of Colorado with a degree in sociology.
1994
Plastic bag recycling initiative begins at Wegmans stores.
1994
The company opens its first Nature’s Marketplace in Marketplace store.
1996
Nicole Wegman graduates from University of Colorado with a degree in liberal arts.
1996
First Wegmans’ website launched.
1997
Robert Wegman celebrates his 60th anniversary with the company.
1997
Wegmans opens its mini “store” at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.
1997
Wegmans “superstore” opens in Pittsford Plaza (3195 Monroe Ave).
1999
Wegmans opens its first French pastry shop, the Patisserie, in Pittsford store.
1999
First New Jersey store opens in West Windsor Township just south of Princeton.
2001
First Wegmans Menu Magazine is published.
2001
Danny Wegman writes down the core values of the company, referred to as “Who We Are.”
2002
Wegmans opens its first restaurant, Tastings, at the Pittsford store. It closed in 2009.
2002
Robert Wegman announces two-year, $10 million gift to Aquinas Institute, his alma mater.
2003
Wegmans Organic brand products are introduced.
2003
Wegmans introduces the Eat Well, Live Well philosophy and other wellness programs for employees.
2003
Supermarket News names Danny Wegman one of the “50 Power Players — People Whose Actions Drive the Food Industry.”
2004
Wegmans opens its first store in Virginia — the Dulles store in Sterling.
2005
Danny Wegman named CEO. Colleen Wegman named president.
2005
Wegmans is recognized as No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
2005
Robert Wegman donates $5 million to St. John Fisher College to open the Wegmans School
of Pharmacy.
2005
Wegmans opens its first store in Maryland in Hunt Valley on Oct. 2, 2005.
2006
Robert Wegman donates $8 million to St. John Fisher College to fund the Wegmans School of Nursing.
2006
Robert Wegman, right, dies on April 20 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester at age 87.
2007
Wegmans Organic Farm in Canandaigua has its first growing season.
2008
Wegmans removes all tobacco from all of its stores.
2009
Next Door by Wegmans, a restaurant, opens across from the Pittsford store.
2009
The Pub, a casual in-store restaurant, opens in Collegeville, Pa. It’s the first of several to open in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York.
2010
Wegmans mobile app debuts.
2012
Nicole Wegman named senior vice president of wine and perishable merchandising.
2013
Danny Wegman receives Hall of Achievement award, the highest honor by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
2013
Amore Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar opens at new East Avenue store in Rochester.
2014
Wegmans opens its first Burger Bar at the Pittsford store.
2014
Wegmans opens its Cheese Caves, a building that mimics conditions in Europe.
2015
Wegmans Wonderplace opens at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
2016
Wegmans celebrates its 100th anniversary at all its stores on Jan. 30.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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