An Analysis Of Wawa's Culture

A key aspect of culture involves food procurement. A culture without behaviors and traditions aimed at securing food cannot ensure the survival of its members. The majority of people living in a first world country, namely the U.S., have no issue finding food. The days of hunting and farming are long forgotten. Due to the advent of industrialization and technology, various foods can be processed and delivered to the general American population through supermarkets. Supermarkets exist in most communities and provide people with abundant nourishment options. Despite supermarkets’ widespread presence, businesses saw an opportunity to make food even more available, and thus, established convenience stores. Convenience stores increase food availability

Customers visit Wawa stores and follow their traditions of acquiring food products, with little or no difficulty. Wawa stores actually lack “Order Here” and “Checkout” signs, meaning customers have learned the Wawa store process through tradition, further proving the existence of culture. It was apparent that new customers or customers from areas without Wawa stores had questions about the process since they have not yet experienced this cultural phenomenon. Their questions were dutifully answered by Wawa employees, who were following their traditions. With these traditions in mind, it is clear that Wawa’s culture is a subculture. Normal cultural tradition was for an individual to shop at supermarket to prepare a home cooked meal or visit a restaurant. However, with Wawa, people choose to get their nourishment by ordering it through a screen and having it prepared for them. More and more people are relying on Wawa for their daily meals, as demonstrated by the eight to nine customers who visited the Brick Wawa multiple times throughout a single day. Additionally, Wawa stores also have their own specific terminology for some items. Most notably, a sub sandwich is addressed as a “hoagie” while breakfast sandwiches are dubbed “sizzlis.” Although these changes seem miniscule, their significance is apparent. Traditional customers recognize the terminology whereas new customers not accustomed to Wawa culture are dumbfounded when employees tell them their “hoagies” are completed. The existence of a Wawa subculture is most apparent during “Hoagiefest,” which is a 2.5 month summer sale of “hoagies.” During this period, customers, both new and old, flock to Wawa to take advantage of food savings. Every season, more and more people are willing to forego previous traditions and participate in Wawa subculture. Customers would mention that “hoagies” replaced their BBQ. Some even go as far as claiming that Wawa is their primary