<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2NWelq_0lBovCRe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2NWelq_0lBovCRe00" width="1512" height="2016" ><figcaption>More than a dozen Lehigh Valley Wawa locations are now offering pizza. We tell you what we think. Jennifer Sheehan/The Morning Call/TNS </figcaption></figure><p> Wawa — the much-loved convenience store chain known for its popular, customizable hoagies — is looking to get a slice of another food category. </p><p> Select Wawa locations around the Valley are now offering pizza, and in the name of journalism, we gave it a try. </p><p> Here’s what we found: </p><h4> The background </h4><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Over the last few years, convenience stores have stepped up their game to compete with restaurants. Big convenience store chains now offer not only gas for your car, air for your tires and snacks for the road but also customizable hoagies, lattes and salads. </p><p> For convenience stores, food is a big part of their business — and it’s only getting bigger. According to the 2022 Convenience Store News Industry Report, food-service sales were up 20% last year. </p><p> Wawa is facing tough competition on all sides for that food business — particularly from equally popular Sheetz, which also offers a huge selection of customized foods and beverages. </p><p> So Wawa has to keep coming out with new options to compete. Two years ago, the chain began to offer burgers and fries as part of its dinner menu at all its locations, for example. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> Now the company is giving pizza a try. Wawa spokesperson Jennifer Wolf said the company is testing pizza in an expanded number of stores in the chain including more than a dozen in the Lehigh Valley to gather customer reactions and evaluate the process in stores to see what needs to be fine-tuned. </p><h4> Where can you get Wawa pizza? </h4><p> It’s important to note that pizza is not available at all Wawa stores. Here’s where you can get it in the Valley: </p><ul><li> 1501 W. Gordon St., Allentown </li><li> 2209 Lehigh St., Allentown </li><li> 364 Susquehanna St. Allentown </li><li> 1584 Eighth Ave., Bethlehem </li><li> 2525 Easton Ave., Bethlehem </li><li> 741 E. Broad St., Bethlehem </li><li> 6680 Route 309, Upper Saucon Township </li><li> 310 Larry Holmes Drive, Easton </li><li> 225 Cattell St., Easton </li><li> 631 S. 25th St., Palmer Township </li><li> 3820 Easton Nazareth Hwy., Lower Nazareth Township </li><li> 1429 Broadway, Fountain Hill </li><li> 3321 Willow Lane, Lower Macungie Township </li><li> 4900 Hamilton Blvd., Lower Macungie Township </li><li> 2985 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Township </li><li> 408 Cedar Crest Boulevard, South Whitehall Township </li></ul><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> If you like to eat pizza for lunch, you’ll be out of luck: Pizza is part of the dinner menu, so it’s offered after 4 p.m. </p><h4> What can you get? </h4><p> It’s important to note that while Wawa is known for its customizable hoagies, the pizza options are very limited. </p><p> You have two choices for size: 14 inch and 16 inch. You can get plain, pepperoni or sausage and some locations will offer half plain/half pepperoni, half plain/half sausage and half sausage/half pepperoni. (Note: Not all the pizza locations offer all the options.) </p><h4> Price comparison </h4><p> Prices range from $12.99 for a 14-inch plain to $15.99 for a 16-inch pepperoni. A quick look at the prices for pies at the Valley’s most popular pizza places and you’ll find Wawa’s pizza pricing to be comparable. (You’re not saving any money but it’s not more expensive either.) </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h4> Ordering process </h4><p> I always use the Wawa app for ordering because it’s easier. I looked up the listed locations where pizza is available and chose one that’s near us. I put in my order for pick up at 408 Cedar Crest Blvd. in South Whitehall. </p><p> It’s rare that an order isn’t ready when I go to pick it up. And this was no exception. Our pizza was ready right at the time I set for pickup. </p><h4> Flavor/texture </h4><p> The crust had thin crispy texture but was still pliable (for those who like to fold a slice, New York style.) However, it didn’t have that pleasant chewiness you get from a pizza made at your favorite neighborhood restaurant. </p><p> The sauce was very one-note. My daughter found adding sriracha helped boost the flavor. For me, the sauce would have been improved with the addition of garlic, salt and pepper. (Sauce is truly an overlooked part of a pizza. If the sauce is meh, the rest of the pie’s flavor is in trouble.) </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> On the positive side, the sauce-to-cheese ratio was appropriate.&nbsp;The cheese was applied well and fully melted without any greasiness. </p><p> One of the reasons I chose a half plain/half pepperoni was to be able to try both types. The pepperoni was better and brought much needed zing to the pizza. </p><h4> Overall takeaways </h4><p> Wawa’s pizza was better than most frozen pizzas you’d get from your local supermarket and had an edge over chain pizza restaurants such as Domino’s. </p><p> But comparing the Wawa pizza to what we get from our favorite locally owned pizza shop, it wasn’t close. </p><p> Whenever I do reviews, I ask myself if what I’m trying is something I’d go out of my way to get again. My family will stick to their delicious hoagies. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><footer style="font-size: 0.67em"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px"> For more stories, <a href="http://join.morningcall.com"> Subscribe to The Morning Call. </a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px"> ©2023 The Morning Call. Visit mcall.com. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px"> Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. </p></footer></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Wawa — the much-loved convenience store chain known for its popular, customizable hoagies — is looking to get a slice of another food category. Select Wawa locations around the Valley are now offering pizza, and in the name of journalism, we gave it a try. Here’s what we found: The background Over the last few years, convenience stores have stepped up their game to compete with restaurants. ...