JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A report by The Jacksonville Business Journal stated that Wawa Inc. is “actively looking for sites” around Jacksonville, according to CSPnet.com.

Lori Bruce, spokesperson for Wawa, reported to the newspaper that the real estate team for the convenience store chain was “keen” on Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties, stated the article.

In July 2012 Wawa established its first Florida-based location in Orlando, reported the article, and now it has 87 locations in Florida with plans to add 100 more by 2019.

Bruce said that expanding into northeast Florida was “a natural step in the chain’s continued expansion in the state,” continued the article.

“Jacksonville is a great area,” stated Bruce in the article. “It has everything we love about Florida. It’s a terrific population, it’s on the East Coast which serves well people who move south and know our brand. Florida in general provides us such a wonderful community. We’ve had an amazing reception.”

According to the article, Florida has experienced “record growth in the convenience channel.”

In 2014 the number of c-stores increased from 9,737 to nearly 10,000 in 2015, informed the article, and the 2015 National Association of Convenience Stores/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count rained Florida third among all U.S. states.

“The convenience store industry in Florida continues to see incredible growth as more drivers rely on the time-saving ease these stores offer drivers to get food, drinks, supplies and gasoline every day,” said Ned Bowman, FPMA executive director, in the article. “Florida’s economy continues to improve and support our industry, and we’re proud of the work FPMA does each year with state and local government to ensure our state’s convenience stores are more environmentally friendly and safer for employees and customers.”

Based in Wawa, Pennsylvania, noted the article, Wawa has more than 700 c-stores located throughout Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

You can find the article here.