Wawa wanted to innovate its foodservice operations while preserving the guest experience that built its cult following. We reimagined the operating model to function more like a QSR or fast-casual brand—pairing a newly updated store design with an optimized kitchen—to create a scalable system that improved efficiency and significantly boosted sales.
Vertical: Convenience
DGX
To thrive in dense city environments, Dollar General needed more than a smaller footprint—it needed a new identity. Together, we created DGX, a modern, curated concept built for young professionals, students, and city dwellers seeking fast, easy, and elevated convenience. The result was a format that reimagined what a dollar store could be.
Joanne Heyob
As SVP, Operations Strategy & Design at WD Partners, Joanne brings 20 years of experience rooted in retail and store operations. With a proven track record of driving innovative growth strategies for retail brands, she leads WD’s operations team, which is a key component and differentiator in our end-to-end offering. She serves as a client […]
Jay Highland
Jay spent over 17 years building teams, leading creative, and collaborating with all disciplines involved with experience design. His career path encompasses all phases of the retail strategy and design process, solving clients’ real-world business problems via “big ideas” in concepting, prototyping, and scaled implementation. Jay is a team and account leader—collaborating, listening, building, guiding, […]
The Sweet State of Snacking
The snacking landscape is evolving—one bite at a time. At this year's Sweets & Snacks Expo, the "State of Snacking" session served up plenty of tasty insights that show just how fast the snack category is changing and why brands need to stay ahead of the game. Healthier, Choosier Snacking First things first: consumers are […]
Solutions
Your Challenges, Our Solutions
We know you're not just looking for a vendor—you're looking for a partner who understands your brand, your challenges, and your goals. Whether your pain point is brand consistency, operational inefficiency, or scaling with speed, we've been there. What's keeping you up at night?
A fully integrated approach—from strategy to creative to roll-out and beyond. Thoughtfully designed, expertly executed—our solutions don't just impress, they scale and grow. We solve our clients' business problems with big ideas that turn into scalable, business‑right solutions.
Brand
Connect shopper insights to experiences that fuel demand.
Your consumers are telling you what they want every day—through their choices, their clicks, and their carts. We help you decode that behavior and turn it into experiences that not only attract new shoppers but keep them coming back.Read Our Solution Stories:Transform every store into a destination shoppers love.
Your brand story deserves more than four walls—it should live in every detail. We help you create a signature experience that’s inspiring and repeatable, so whether it’s one location or one thousand, every store feels consistent, engaging, and unforgettable.Read Our Solution Stories:Craft a compelling brand story—across all touchpoints.
Your story comes alive in the places your customers experience it. From a full refresh to a brand-new identity, we bring together design, storytelling, and place to create a brand that feels compelling, consistent, and impossible to ignore.Read Our Solution Stories:Magnetize and engage customers with a tech-infused experience.
Digital shouldn’t feel bolted on—it should feel like part of your brand. We design connected experiences that align naturally with your story, creating moments that engage, inspire, and keep customers coming back.Read Our Solution Stories:
Ops
Right people, right place, right time – every time.
Optimize labor utilization with data-driven task assignments and volume and velocity forecasting. Our workforce management tools, staffing matrices, and training programs help you schedule smarter, reduce inefficiencies, and keep your teams focused where they’re needed most.Read Our Solution Stories:Consistency that drives speed and throughput.
Use Industrial Engineering methodologies to create standardized workflows and procedures that improve your speed of service and increase throughput. With clear SOPs in place, your teams can work faster, reduce errors, and deliver a reliable experience every time.Read Our Solution Stories:Operational models built to flex and grow.
Design operational models and footprints that scale across new and existing formats, sales targets, and performance metrics. From space optimization to tech integration and automation, we create solutions that adapt to capacity needs and keep your operations running smoothly.Read Our Solution Stories:Where customer experience meets operational reality.
Integrate operational priorities with the customer experience and environmental and architectural design. We help balance seamless, frictionless experiences with operational feasibility—so the brand vision works not just for your customers, but for your teams.Read Our Solution Stories:
Build
Build with the expectation of excellence, speed, and consistency.
From pilot programs to nationwide rollouts, we deliver comprehensive AEC services that move fast without sacrificing quality. With boots on the ground, a proven national presence, and the latest tech and innovation, we make scaling straightforward—so you can expand with confidence.Read Our Solution Stories:Building with precision starts with reducing uncertainty.
Predictability matters. Through a consultative approach, careful planning, and strict compliance, we deliver projects with no surprises—on time and on budget. With consistent quality and trusted relationships, we make execution something you can count on every time.Read Our Solution Stories:Manage vendors and stakeholders with confidence and consistency.
Big programs demand more than coordination—they demand true integration. We bring internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders together into one seamless operation, giving you control over cost, quality, and timelines while building trust every step of the way.Read Our Solution Stories:Unlock your data’s power to simplify, streamline, and innovate.
Facilities can’t run on stale information. With reliable asset data, technology integration, and tools like BIM modeling, we give you the clarity to manage today and the foresight to plan for tomorrow. Our industry knowledge and innovation keep your facilities adaptable, efficient, and ready for what’s next.Read Our Solution Stories:
Industry Intelligence
Explore the thinking behind the doing. Dive into POVs, trends, and brand insights from our subject matter experts that shape how we create meaningful experiences.
Relevant Content
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WayfindBalancing Authenticity and Innovation at the Fast Company Innovation Festival
How Crafting Value, Embracing Discomfort, and Creating Delight are Shaping the Future of Brands -
Point of ViewBig Box Should Sell Resale Goods in Stores
Resale Isn’t a Side Hustle—It’s the Next Big In-Store Growth Opportunity for Big Box Retailers -
Point of ViewWinning in Today’s Retail Ecosystem
Why Other Retailers Should Take the DICK'S Sporting Goods Approach -
Point of ViewWomen in Sport
Don't Leave Her on the Retail Sidelines
What Does WD Do?
If you've made it to this article, you've at least heard of WD Partners, but what exactly do we do? Let's take you through how we bring ideas to life, create extraordinary experiences, and ensure that everything runs smoothly—all under one roof. The Power of Integration At WD, we're not just about ticking boxes or […]
Stepping Up the Food Experience in C-Stores
Gas stations and convenience stores (c-stores) are undergoing a rapid transformation. Gone are the days of merely being a pit stop for fuel and grabbing a quick snack from under a heat lamp or the roller dog grill. Instead, they’re embracing a new identity akin to quick service restaurants (QSRs) and fast casual brands. This […]
Engineering at WD
A day in the life of a WD engineer goes by quickly – not only is the work fast-paced, but the projects big and the challenges complicated. Collaborative Solutions Unlike your standard engineering consulting firm, at WD, we’re all on the same team – the engineers, the architects, the construction managers, the designers, the strategists, […]
Dine-O-Mite
During the pandemic, restaurants entered a period of intense uncertainty and near-collapse that forced them to rapidly adapt. In 2020 alone, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) reported that restaurant industry sales were down $240 billion from projected sales pre-pandemic and it wasn’t rare to see your local restaurants boarding up their doors. Restaurants responded to […]
