Wegmans Food Markets said Wednesday it plans to unveil plaques with a portrait of Robert B. Wegman near the entrances of its 88 stores on Saturday to kick off its 100-year anniversary celebration.
Wegman, the son of one of the company’s two founders, led the Rochester, N.Y.-based chain from 1950 until his death in 2006.
Robert Wegman observes one of the first UPC scans in N.Y. state in 1974.
Writing in the company’s in-house magazine, Danny Wegman, chairman and CEO, said, “As we reflect on how we got here, we remember a simple rule my dad taught us: ‘Never think about yourself; always help others.’
“This is our guiding principle … the basis for our company values, which truly define who we are.
“While many things have changed over 100 years, our values remain the same. They’re the foundation for our core business philosophy that my dad outlined years ago: ‘To do something that no one else is doing and offer customers a choice they don’t have at the moment. This is the only reason for being in business.’”
In his comments in the magazine, Wegman cited the chain’s family ownership and its employee culture. “We are a family company, and a company of families,” he said.
Wegmans’ daughters are keeping family involvement going forward into a fourth generation, with Colleen Wegman serving as president and Nicole Wegman as SVP, perishable foods and wine.

Besides unveiling Robert Wegman’s portrait, Wegmans said it will kick off its 100th-anniversary celebration Saturday with free cake uniquely created by each store and product tastings. Employees will also be wearing new shirts commemorating the anniversary, the company noted.
Wegmans said it plans other anniversary events during the year “not yet detailed.”
The company operates stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland, with plans to enter North Carolina. Sales for 2015 are estimated at $7.9 billion.