Customer Service Associate

Aston Wawa earns top ranking in the chain; celebration follows. The store's team wins for top teamwork, dedication and community connection. PUBLISHED: August 2, 2026 at 7:40 AM EDT ASTON - The music was playing. Wally Goose was dancing through the store. Wawa team members proudly wore their new Wawa letterman jackets, and a big shiny trophy stood ready to recognize a moment that the Aston team will likely never forget. Inside Wawa Store 8027 at 5008 Pennell Road, the festive celebration was about much more than being named the best. It was about the people. The Aston Wawa was named Wawa's No. 1 All-Star Store among more than 1,200 locations nationwide after winning a six-month companywide competition recognizing excellence in customer service, operational performance, campaign readiness and the overall customer experience. With the retailer's commitment to providing value promotions to its customers, including the $5 Value Menu and the annual Hoagiefest, the store ranked the highest in an internal recognition program for campaign execution for promotions from January through June. For the 45 associates who work there every day, the honor was a reflection of the teamwork, dedication and community connection that have become part of the store's identity. "It's super exciting," said General Manager Zach Mangan, who has worked for Wawa for 11 years and has led the Aston store for the past year and a half. But, Mangan was quick to give credit to the people around him. "I don't do a whole lot. I just show up," he jokingly said. "Honestly, it's the team that does all the work." The reason for the store's success, he said, comes from associates who support one another and take pride in what they do. "We have a really good team here," Mangan said. "They want to work for each other. They show up for each other every day and support each other." Mangan said his leadership approach is simple. "It's me just coming in, trying to be positive every day and helping the best I can to make everyone succeed," he said. He credits the support and guidance of Wawa leaders, including Chris Gheysens, CEO of Wawa, and Jason Boyer, Wawa area manager, for helping him grow as a leader. "You learn from the best," Mangan said. "Jason and Chris are here to support me all the time, so it's something I try to take into my stores and help my team do the best they can." Represents Wawa culture. Gheysens said the Aston store earned the top honor because it consistently delivered across every category measured during the six-month competition. "This store won on every mark for the whole six months, beating all the other 1,200-plus Wawas," he said. The recognition was based not only on results, but on how the team prepared for promotions, engaged with customers and delivered what Wawa calls legendary customer service. "It always comes down to our associates," Gheysens said. "Our associates are really the magic that brings everything together." He said the Aston team stands out because employees genuinely enjoy serving customers and building relationships. "They bring the community in and welcome the customers and make them feel like they're part of the family," he said. Gheysens said Wawa's approach is focused on the customer experience rather than simply chasing numbers. "Most retailers will chase metrics," he said. "Our big focus is, what did the customer get? How are they responding? Because if you win with your customer, everything else will follow." The Aston store, located in the heart of Delaware County, represents the kind of community connection Wawa values. "We're in Wawa heartland: Delco," Gheysens said. "If you're going to get it right, this is exactly where you want to get it right." Growing through opportunity. Mangan's own Wawa journey reflects the company's emphasis on growth. After graduating from St. Joseph's University, he joined Wawa through the company's College Graduate Leadership Program. He began as an inventory manager and worked his way through leadership roles before becoming a general manager. Mangan said he enjoys sharing his experience with associates who may be unsure about pursuing advancement. "I can share my story and tell them the success that I've had or the things that they need to do to take that next step in their career," he said. Recognizing associates. Mangan said a successful team starts with employees knowing their work matters. The Aston store uses associate recognition programs, including Goosebumps cards, which managers can give employees who provide exceptional customer service or go above and beyond. The recognition can be used through Wawa's associate reward program and serves as a reminder that small actions can make a big impact. Mangan said that is especially important because customers often come into the store carrying the stresses of daily life. "Maybe they rolled out on the wrong side of the bed," he said. "Maybe they're just having a bad day. We have five minutes to try and change that and brighten their mood." Faces customers know. For customer service associate John Lewis, who has worked at Wawa's Aston store for nine years, the reason he enjoys the job comes down to relationships. "It's the community and the people," Lewis said. "They come in, they greet you, they say hello, how you doing?" Lewis said he enjoys seeing familiar customers and creating connections beyond a simple transaction. When Lewis learned the Aston store was ranked No. 1, he said the accomplishment was difficult to believe. "It was surprising," he said. "It's amazing to be No. 1 in the whole chain, with sales and everything else. I think it was amazing and felt good to all of us." Lewis believes the success comes from the store's environment of "accomplishment, positive attitude and always- pleasant atmosphere." He also described the team as a family. "We get along. We're all friends," Lewis said. "We do everything for each other and our customers, making sure everything gets done, taken care of. We help each other out." Customer service associate Marc Firmani said the best part of working at Wawa is helping customers and seeing their reactions. "I like working at Wawa because I like seeing the smiles on customers' faces, helping them out," Firmani said. "I love keeping the store clean, and I just enjoy the experience and the growth that it brings." When associates were told they were No. 1 among all Wawa stores, Firmani said it was an unforgettable moment. "I couldn't believe it," Firmani said. "Out of every single store there is, they told us we were No. 1. It felt amazing. Like they said earlier today, as Wawa team members, it was the equivalent to winning the Super Bowl." Celebration worth remembering. The announcement brought together nearly the entire team, with 43 of the store's 45 associates attending the celebration, as well as Wawa team members from Red Roof corporate headquarters and customers. The event included a trophy presentation, letter jackets for all team members, lunch and recognition from Wawa leadership. Justin Tichy, Wawa's chief operating officer, praised the team's ability to execute company campaigns and maintain the company's focus on legendary customer service. "The customer always comes first, and you've proven that again," he told the associates. Each member of the team was called out individually and recognized for their role in the store's success, from assistant general managers and food service leaders to customer service associates and inventory team members. Aston Township officials also recognized the accomplishment, thanking the store for its continued support of the community. Township Manager Bill DeFeo, who is also a regular customer at the store, said he wasn't at all surprised by the store's standing. "This store has always had that little something extra," he shared. "You can feel it and see it every time you walk through those doors." Staying on top. While celebrating the accomplishment, Mangan knows earning the No. 1 ranking is only the beginning. "There's another store that can take the No. 1 spot," he said. "We've got to keep doing what we're doing." That means continuing to embrace new promotions, new products and new ways to serve customers while maintaining the personal connections that make the Aston location special. For Wawa leaders, employees and customers, the award represents more than winning a competition. It represents a team that shows up for each other, a store that welcomes its neighbors, and associates who understand that one positive interaction can change someone's day. At Aston Wawa, being No. 1 is not just an achievement, but a reflection of the people who make the store feel like home. Mangan said the trophy will be prominently and proudly displayed inside the store as a reminder of what the team and their customers achieved together.

Wawa to celebrate new Wilmington store with free T-shirts and coffee. 4 hours ago WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) - Wawa is continuing its expansion in southeastern North Carolina with the opening of its second store in New Hanover County next month. The convenience store chain will celebrate the grand opening of its newest Wilmington location at 2402 S. 17th St. on Thursday, Aug. 13, with giveaways, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community events. Festivities will begin at 7:55 a.m. with a countdown to the store's official opening at 8 a.m. The first 250 customers will receive a free limited-edition Wawa grand opening T-shirt while supplies last, and all customers can enjoy free any-size hot coffee through Aug. 16. A grand opening ceremony will follow at 8:30 a.m., featuring remarks from Wawa leaders, local and state officials, and a ribbon cutting. The event will also include Wawa's signature "Hoagies for Heroes" hoagie-building competition, where local police officers and firefighters will compete in a friendly challenge. Wawa mascot Wally Goose will also make an appearance during the celebration. The Wilmington location is part of Wawa's long-term growth plans across North Carolina. The company says it plans to open 6 to 8 stores each year over the next eight to 10 years, with a goal of operating 90 stores statewide. According to Wawa, each new store represents an investment of more than $7.5 million, creates work for approximately 140 contractors and local partners during construction and employs an average of 35 associates once open. The company expects its statewide expansion to create more than 3,000 long-term jobs across North Carolina.

Like rival Wawa, Delco's Swiss Farms plans to add gas pumps under its latest owner. Arsh Pola, who owns gas stations, plans steady, incremental, gas-fueled growth for drive-up Swiss Farm Stores. Joseph N. DiStefano I write about businesses, bosses, workers, fraud, and the regional economy. Link copied to clipboard Zoe Rosenberg Link copied to clipboard Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Stan Choe, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Paul Wiseman, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Stan Choe, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Matt O'Brien, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Damian J. Troise and Alex Veiga, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Kevin Brasler and Delaware Valley Consumers' Checkbook, For The Inquirer Link copied to clipboard Kelvin Chan, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard Damian J. Troise, Associated Press Link copied to clipboard