KEARNY, N.J. -- Wawa Inc. continues to enter new markets -- this time in New Jersey. The convenience store retailer is set to host the grand opening of its northernmost located store on Friday.

The convenience store, located at 200 Harrison Ave. in Kearny, N.J. is also the first Wawa in Hudson County. It is the first of three Wawa stores slated to open in the first half of 2013 in the North Jersey region, according to the company. The other two stores are in Woodbridge, located in Middlesex County, and Elizabeth, located in Union County.

Friday's grand opening of the Kearny store will also officially kick off Wawa's partnership with three local organizations: the Community FoodBank of NJ, West Hudson Arts & Theater Co. and Literacy Volunteers of West Hudson.

"We are thrilled to spread out wings into northern New Jersey and to celebrate this exciting occasion with honored friends and guests. We have a deeply rooted history in New Jersey and are ecstatic to soon provide all New Jersey residents with our unique brand of appetizing convenience," said Sal Mattera, Wawa's vice president of store operations. "As in all communities we join, we are committed to being a good neighbor to the North Jersey community, an our partnerships with three outstanding local organizations are our way of supporting the people of the Kearny and Hudson County communities and the causes near and dear to their hearts."

Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos and other local officials will join Wawa officials for the grand opening celebration.

"For years, it's been a dream of ours to expand into North Jersey, and we couldn't be happier to meet our new North Jersey family and simplify their lives on a daily basis," Mattera added. "As we open more locations over the next few months and coming years, it's our hope for every New Jersey resident to call Wawa a member of their own community that provides support for community organizations and the unprecedented level of convenience, and fresh and inviting food and beverage offer our customers rely on us for."

In addition to this year's planned opening of the stores in Kearny, Woodbridge and Elizabeth, Wawa will begin to enter additional counties in northern New Jersey in 2014 and 2015 with the northernmost c-store to be in Bergen County. The retailer plans to open more than 10 stores in the North Jersey market by the end of 2015, with five stores opening in both 2014 and 2015.

The privately held Wawa Inc. operates more than 600 convenience stores, 300 of which offer gasoline, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.