New Wegmans Opens Today in Virginia

Wegmans in Gainesville, Va., (officially known as Wegmans Lake Manassas) opened today. The Washington Post provided this story with this unique aspect about the store:

Although each store offers a similar selection of goods, Dempsey said the decor varies. Each store has a mural along the back wall representing the region. The Gainesville store's mural depicts scenes such as the cherry blossoms in the District and the Shenandoah mountains. And the mural would not be complete, Dempsey said, without a scene of the Manassas Battlefield.

New Wegmans Fall Magazine --Italian Food

This fall's Wegmans magazine is now available at the grocery store. Italian food is the theme and some of the recipes look good. As usual, I like to try many of the recipes and this magazine does provide nutritional information, which is critical. But, as usual, this magazine introduces all sorts of new products that you can now, conveniently enough, purchase pre-packaged at Wegmans.

Wegmans Food Labels to Include Country of Origin

Interesting idea that starts Sept. 30 to help shoppers know where food comes from.

“I kind of try to stay with American now. And I like to know where the food is coming from when we eat it. If we like it, fine. But if we don't like it, I want to make sure we stay away from that,” Ed Lesczinski from Greece said.

Back to School Meal Ideas From Wegmans

Wegmans posted a back to school section on its home page detailing how to eat healthy. Great idea because eating healthy at an early age and avoiding sugar and fructose can lead to healthier lifestyle choices in the future. I know, kids eat anything, but childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise, so we owe it to our kids and so many others (healthcare workers, health insurance costs, etc.) to eat well.

Bye Bye Plastic?

Amen! According to a Wegmans sustainability staff member (as reported on WROC-TV):

"...plates at the prepared food bars made of polystyrene with a number six recycle code. Jason Wadsworth, a sustainability specialist at Wegmans, says that material cannot be recycled at the recycling centers near Wegmans stores. They're working to change that by phasing in new fiber plates.

"We're moving toward more number one and number two recycle code plastics, which are widely recycled," said Wadsworth.

Buy Local at Wegmans

I was at the Scranton-Wilkes Barre store over the weekend and noticed the farm fresh delivery signs at the front door -- a map of where food local food was delivered from and what was new in the market. I thought it was a great visual I hadn't noticed at other stores. Here's more info from Wegmans about buying local food, which helps promote sustainable living.

Wegmans in Boston?

People familiar with Wegmans clamor for the store in their city. With the D.C. and Philly markets conquered, is Boston next? Should it be the next big city market for Wegmans to expand and thereby increase its cult status and profit margin?

I would guess that by looking at the store locator map that Boston is not next. Look where the retail service center is located -- right in the heart of Pennsylvania with access to all four compass points. I don't think Boston sees a Wegmans until Albany sees one first.

Shop Wegmans Online?

Here's an intriguing academic paper on Wegmans by some students at Syracuse University that calls for putting all Wegmans products online. For those of you out of the "Wegmans Zone," this would probably be ideal, though you wouldn't have the store experience!

Veggie Bar at Wegmans

A Wegmans in Rochester recently opened a Veggie Bar, according to the Rochester newspaper.

"The offerings appease both the discerning foodie and the strive for five disciples. Green beans with roasted walnuts and walnut oil. Thai curry vegetables simmered in green or red sauce over brown rice. Cedar plank tofu with greens, brown rice and garbanzos. These sides and entrees, displayed in their attractive single serving glory in an adjacent display case, are prepared earlier in the day then reheated."

I've heard of a Seafood Bar, too, at Wegmans. I love the fact that Wegmans is trying to push healthy food, though the prices of the prepared and specialty foods can be expensive for some people, especially many who need to eat better food.

This raises a question: Why does it cost so much to eat good food? You'll notice "My Weekly Wegmans Tab" on this blog and it's so expensive because healthy food costs cash. I simply don't see how we (at least here in America) can propose eating healthy yet it costs so much. No wonder why there's an obesity problem. No wonder why sugar and corn are silently killing us. More Veggie Bars (and I mean real ones, not ones with iceberg lettuce and lousy cucumbers) should be accessible and cheaper for all people.

Duo of New Wegmans in Northern Virginia

Leesburg and Gainesville, Va., stores are inching closer to reality. Congrats to these communities. Who's next?

Leesburg

• Wegmans Goes for Design Approval (Leesburg Today, Jan. 16, 2007)
  
• The Village at Leesburg

Gainesville

• Wegmans OK'd for Gainesville (Potomac News, Jan. 19, 2007)
  

Recent Wegmans Links

It's been awhile since posting on this blog, but it's back in action. Here are some recent media links that cite Wegmans and some food options:

Tandoori Chicken Recipe (ingredients at Wegmans, duly noted) (Washington Post)

Ugly Ripe Tomatoes (yuck) (Washington Post)

Whey Low (new sugar substitute) (Washington Post)