Wegmans is a privately held supermarket chain operating 114 stores across nine states and Washington, D.C., including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Delaware, and the District itself. Founded in 1916 as the Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Company by John and Walter Wegman, the company has remained family-owned and operated for over a century, growing into one of the largest private companies in the United States with more than 50,000 employees.
The company's operations center on grocery retail, with a stated mission of helping people live healthier, better lives through exceptional food. Since 1991, Wegmans has pursued this through its "Food You Feel Good About" initiative, systematically removing artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners from its product lines. The company emphasises partnerships with local farms and suppliers aligned with its values and positions quality and ingredient integrity as core to its business.
Wegmans has been recognised as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For every year since 1998, ranking fifth on that list in 2026. The company describes its approach as one where employees live its values in their daily work, supporting communities where Wegmans operates.
