{"id":4475,"date":"2015-12-09T01:54:23","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T06:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/wegmans-the-new-frontier-in-grocery\/"},"modified":"2015-12-09T01:54:23","modified_gmt":"2015-12-09T06:54:23","slug":"wegmans-the-new-frontier-in-grocery","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/wegmans-the-new-frontier-in-grocery\/","title":{"rendered":"Wegmans: The New Frontier in Grocery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wegmans, a grocery chain founded by John Wegman in 1916, is one of the largest privately run companies in the United States. It operates over 80 stores across the northeast and houses\u00a0more than half of its stores in its home state of New York. The chain has seen consistent topline growth over the years, from $6.2 billion of revenue in 2011 up to $6.8 billion of revenue in 2013.1<\/sup> Wegmans\u2019 loyal customer base may be a testament of how a sound business model and a complementary operating model can differentiate a company from its competitors.<\/p>\n

Why is Wegmans Different? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Wegmans business model focuses on three elements:<\/p>\n

Competitive Prices<\/strong>: While Wegmans positions itself as a high-end grocery store (competing with the likes of Whole Foods), the prices remain competitive. According to an analysis done by the consumer group Checkbook, Wegmans\u2019 average prices were even lower than those of Giant and Safeway.2<\/sup> Wegmans\u2019 ability to combine the high-end grocery store ambience with a low pricing strategy reinforces their ability to serve multiple customer segments. This large and loyal customer base, in turn, drives up sales volume.<\/p>\n

Large Retail Footprint<\/strong>: The Wegmans store footprint is one of the largest in the industry, from 75,000 to 140,000 square feet.3<\/sup> In comparison, the median store footprint across the grocery category is about 46,000 square feet.4<\/sup> The large retail store size not only offers a higher quality shopping experience with spacious aisles, but also allows the grocery store chain to offer a variety of services that mimic a European open-air market. For example, most Wegmans stores offer a caf\u00e9, a restaurant, fresh sushi, a coffee shop, a bakery, a pharmacy, and a floral shop.3<\/sup> The varied product offering draws customers who would have otherwise visited competitors or smaller specialty stores.<\/p>\n

High Quality with More Choice<\/strong>: If customers want a wide variety of product choices, Wegmans is by far the obvious choice. Compared to an average of 40,000 products in most supermarkets, Wegmans carries from 50,000 to 70,000 unique products.3<\/sup> In addition to product variety, Wegmans prides itself on stocking fresh produce for its customers. However, the high quality element is not isolated to its products. From the layout of the store to the presentation of produce to the displays of organic foods, Wegmans has created a high-quality customer experience. The staff is friendly, helpful, and plentiful.<\/p>\n

Alignment between Business and Operating Models<\/strong><\/p>\n

The business model is supported by key elements of the operating model that help Wegmans retain its competitive advantage:<\/p>\n

Vertically Integrated Supply Chain<\/strong>: Unlike other supermarkets that outsource their distribution networks, Wegmans controls its own distribution process. Wegmans owns 12 distribution centers in New York and Pennsylvania, and they control the selection, distribution, and transportations for products sold across all the Wegmans stores.6<\/sup> This strategy allows Wegmans to control costs and insulates them from external entities taking margin.<\/p>\n

Inventory Turnover<\/strong>: Wegmans’ high quality offering is in large part supported by its ability to turn over inventory much faster than its competitors. According to Strategic Resource Group, the average supermarket turns over its produce about 18-20 times per year, while Wegmans turns its produce over about 100 times a year.2<\/sup> Because produce isn\u2019t ever left out on the shelf for long, it can always be restocked with fresh product. This is in large part due to the volumes that Wegmans experiences, and plays hand-in-hand with the competitive pricing strategy that attracts a wide customer base.<\/p>\n

Private Label Innovation<\/strong>: The Wegmans private label brand has become a high-quality offering. With the introduction of organic and gluten-free products, the Wegmans private label positions itself as a brand of choice with price-sensitive but quality-conscious consumers. Additionally, Wegmans\u2019 partnership with local farms to produce the private label products serves as a testament to the quality of these offerings.<\/p>\n

Employee Focus<\/strong>: The company invests heavily in its workforce \u2013 Fortune Magazine ranked Wegmans the fourth best company to work for in the US. It offers college scholarships to its employees and sends its staff around the world to learn about the different types of foods they offer.5<\/sup> The result is a staff that seems ever willing to make customer service a priority.<\/p>\n

Wegmans is well-positioned for sustained and modest growth through the next decade. As a regional player, the operational strategy supports its business goals. If Wegmans\u2019 expansion plans are limited to the northeastern United States, I believe the current operational model can bear this growth. However, if Wegmans has plans to expand across the United States, certain elements of the operating model (such as the internal distribution ownership) need to adapt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1<\/sup> “WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, INC.” Company Profile. Vault.com. Web. Accessed 09 Dec 2015. <http:\/\/www.vault.com\/company-profiles\/retail\/wegmans-food-markets,-inc\/company-overview.aspx><\/em><\/p>\n

2<\/sup> “Why Wegmans Really Is the Best Supermarket in the U.S.” Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. Accessed 09 Dec 2015. <https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/wonk\/wp\/2015\/05\/13\/why-wegmans-really-is-the-best-supermarket-in-the-u-s\/><\/em><\/p>\n

3 <\/sup>\u201cWegmans Food Markets, Inc.: An Overview.\u201d Wegmans.com. Web. Accessed 09 Dec 2015. <https:\/\/www.wegmans.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10052&identifier=CATEGORY_2441><\/em><\/p>\n

4 <\/sup>“Supermarket Facts.” FMI. Web. Accessed 09 Dec 2015. <http:\/\/www.fmi.org\/research-resources\/supermarket-facts>.<\/em><\/p>\n

5<\/sup> Rohde, David. “The Anti-Walmart: The Secret Sauce of Wegmans Is People.” The Atlantic. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Fbusiness%2Farchive%2F2012%2F03%2Fthe-anti-walmart-the-secret-sauce-of-wegmans-is-people%2F254994%2F>.<\/em><\/p>\n

6<\/sup> \u201cDistribution.\u201d Wegmans.com. Web. Accessed 09 Dec 2015. <http:\/\/www.wegmans.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/ProductDisplay?productId=758923&storeId=10052&langId=-1><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wegmans is battling competitors on all fronts – from Whole Foods to Trader Joe's to Walmart. 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