Robert Wegman, 87, Supermarket Mogul
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Robert Wegman, a pioneer of one-stop shopping who transformed his family’s business into one of the largest private companies in the country, died yesterday at a Rochester hospital. He was 87.
Wegman took over as president of the 90-year-old business begun by his father and uncle in 1950 and over decades introduced private-label products, laser scanning at the check out, and diversifying by adding bakeries, imported foods and cafes into huge stores, along with photo labs, video departments, and child play centers.
The 70 Wegmans emporiums in five states employ more than 35,000 people and posted sales of $3.8 billion in 2005.
Wegman was a passionate golfer and self-taught harmonica player.
