Wawa
Overview
The Wawa convenience store chain is a unique investment vehicle for savvy investors, and for a plethora of reasons. Namely, that most leasing arrangements are triple net, will provide for future stability (which includes peace of mind), and provides for a standard twenty year initial term ground lease contract. Add to this, the professionalism with which Wawa selects choice real estate via specific requirements to assure both visibility and profitability. They look at corner locations and padded parcels near shopping plazas with sufficient population sizes, aiming for locations receiving 25k passing vehicles per day or more. Furthermore, professional as to how they will construct, finance, and operate each new Wawa. They often shelter the landlord from any building liabilities for roof and structure, and their E&C Dept. (Engineering and Construction) spearheads the entirety of each new store and/or renovation of an existing structure. After footing the bill for upfront associated costs, at lease end, the property will revert to the lease holder making it a hard-to-beat investment opportunity.
Lowest Cap Rate
4.00%
Lowest cap rate over past 24 months
Average Cap Rate
4.40%
12 mo avg with 5+ yr lease term
Average Property & Lease
| Average Sale Price | $5,000,000 - $9,000,000 |
| Average NOI | $200,000 - $400,000 |
| Building SF | 4,500 |
| Lease Term | 20 Years |
| Escalations | Varies |
| Stock Symbol | CAPITALCOM:US500 |
CREDIT RATING
Tenant Description
With well over 720 retail conveniences located mostly in the Eastern half of the U.S., Wawa, Inc. began all the way back in 1803 as an NJ based iron foundry. Nearing the end of the 1800’s, George Wood saw the growing dairy farm opportunity, and decided to open his first associated business across the border in Wawa, Pennsylvania, circa 1902. Dairy business had boomed, specifically Mr. Wood’s operations since they were based on high standards of certification throughout his milk processing plant.
When his grandson Grahame Wood started delivering dairy products to local communities, the Wawa Food Market was born in 1964 as one of the most well-known retail outlets for dairy products in the Northeast.
Fast forward to the present, with over 720 retail convenience stores integrating everything from food, fuel, coffee and beverage to ready-to-go meals, approximately half of their stores are gas stations. Many of their locations can be found in PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, and FL. In fact, they have plans to expand in Florida, with reportedly fifty new stores on the way, and another 175 in 2017.
PROS
- Prime locations
- Ground leases without landlord responsibilities
CONS
- Privately-held corporation
- Long term environmental concerns1964
COMPANY QUICK STATS
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Wawa, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Locations | 900 |
| Revenue | $13 B |
| Company Website | https://www.wawa.com |
| Key Principal | Chris Gheysens |