Wikipedia

Sheetz

Not to be confused withSheets.

Sheetz, Inc.is an American chain ofconvenience stores.[3]Its stores, which are open24/7year-round, offer made-to-orderfast food,and most include agas station,while a few locations are full-scaletruck stops,offering showers and alaundromat.[4]The family-owned company has over 21,000 employees, and operates more than 750 company-owned stores located inCentralandWestern Pennsylvania,West Virginia,Maryland,Ohio,Virginia,North Carolina,andMichigan.[5][6]

Sheetz, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryConvenience stores
Fast food restaurant
Gas stations
Truck stops
Founded1952;72 years ago(1952)
Headquarters
Altoona, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Number of locations
752 (2024)
Areas served
Maryland,Michigan,North Carolina,Ohio,Pennsylvania,VirginiaandWest Virginia
Key people
Travis R. Sheetz, President &CEO
Stanton R. Sheetz, Chairman
Joseph S. Sheetz, Vice Chairman
Steve Sheetz, Family Council Chairman
ProductsMade-to-order foods, prepared foods, coffee, motor vehicle fuel, beer and wine
RevenueIncreaseUS$7.2 billion (FY2021)[1]
OwnerSheetz family
Number of employees
25,000 (FY 2023)[2]
WebsiteSheetz

Sheetz is the dominant convenience store chain in much of Pennsylvania, holding a virtual monopoly in its nativeAltoona,and a commanding share of thePittsburgh,Harrisburg,andWyoming Valleymarkets. It is noticeably absent fromPhiladelphiaand theDelaware Valley,due to the presence of competitorWawa,leading toa fierce "rivalry" between the two chainsamong Pennsylvanians, though the two companies themselves have a friendly relationship.[7][8]

History

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1952–1995

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Interior of a Super Sheetz inAltoona

Sheetz, Inc. was founded by G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz in 1952 when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores located inAltoona.In 1961, Bob hired his brother Steve to work part-time.

In 1963, the second store was opened under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper." A third store followed in 1968. In 1969, Steve became general manager. The brothers planned to expand at the rate of one store per year with a target of seven stores by 1972. In 1972, the company expanded from seven to fourteen stores. One year later, Sheetz began selling gasoline, and opened the first self-serve gas pumps in central Pennsylvania. The first Sheetz store outsidePennsylvaniaopened inMarylandin 1976.

In 1981, Bob retired and Steve became president. By 1983, Bob and Steve had opened 100 stores. At that time, the "Kwik Shopper" in "Sheetz Kwik Shopper" was removed.

1995–2013

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Stanton R. "Stan" Sheetz, Bob's son, became president and Steve assumed the position of chairman of the board in 1995.[9]To this day, Sheetz maintains a family business with four family members serving on the executive committee.

During the mid-1990s, It! Cola, the chain'sprivate-labelbrand ofsoft drinkswas discontinued. It was available in cans, bottles, and as a fountain drink, which was replaced byPepsiproducts. The chain now has both Pepsi andCoca-Colaproducts in its fountains. In 1997 the company resumed store expansion, expanding intoOhioby opening a location in theYoungstownarea alongI-80inWeathersfield Township,just east ofGirard.[10]At that time, touchscreen ordering was introduced. Shortly afterwards, the chain expanded intoNorth Carolina.

In September 2001, Sheetz opened a distribution center inClaysburg, Pennsylvania.[11]In December 2004, Sheetz began offering their newMasterCard PayPasswithRFIDtechnology, and was one of the first retailers to accept such technology, ahead ofMcDonald's,Arby's,CVS,and rival7-Eleven,all of which introduced it nationally in 2006.

Sheetz fuel canopy inBreezewood, Pennsylvania

Sheetz becamePennsylvania's second retail chain to offerE85ethanol-based fuel alternatives at select stations on July 10, 2006.[12][13]

Sheetz opened its first commissary, Sheetz Bros. Kitchen, in 2008 to produce fresh sandwiches and bakery products that are sold at Sheetz locations.

Sheetz gained national attention in 2011 when it served as a major sponsor forMorgan Spurlock's filmPOM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.Sheetz actively promoted the film in stores, including selling collector cups, and Altoona even temporarily changed its name to "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Pennsylvania" for $25,000. The name change was merely ceremonial, as it was not legally changed by theUnited States Board of Geographic Names,nor was it recognized by theUnited States Postal Service.[14]

2013–present

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Stan Sheetz became chairman of the board of Sheetz in October 2013, with his cousin Joseph S. "Joe" Sheetz becoming president and CEO.[15]

A Sheetz location inKent, Ohio

Published in November 2013,Kenneth Womack'sMade to Order: The Sheetz Storytraces the company's history from its dairy-store origins through the present day.

In 2014, Sheetz opened its second distribution center and kitchen facility in Burlington, North Carolina.[16]

Sales for fiscal year 2018–2019 totaled $7.5 billion.[17]In 2019, Sheetz opened an IT tech center in Pittsburgh'sBakery Squarecomplex, serving as a secondary headquarters for the company. They later expanded the space in 2023.[18]

On December 19, 2019, Sheetz celebrated the opening of its 600th store inShaler Township, PA.[19]

In April 2024, Sheetz was sued by theEqual Employment Opportunity Commission.The EEOC alleged that Sheetz's usage of criminal background checks in screening job applicants resulted in a disproportionate impact on black, Native American, and multiracial applicants.[20][21]

In June 2024, Sheetz entered a sponsorship deal with thePittsburgh Pirates,adding their logo to the sleeves of Pirates jerseys.[22]The Pirates'Double-Aaffiliate, theAltoona Curve,are in Sheetz's home city.

2020s expansions

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Map of Sheetz locations as of July 2024, prior to the chain's expansion intoMichigan.

Sheetz announced in November 2019 that the chain would expand intoGreater Columbusstarting in 2021,[23]with plans to open 60 locations in the region by 2025, more than doubling its existing store count in Ohio.[24]Upon Sheetz's arrival in the area with the opening of the first of two stores in Delaware in April 2021, Travis Sheetz said that the company had considered expanding into Columbus as early as the late 1990s when the company first expanded intoNortheast Ohio,but decided to expand into North Carolina instead and only recently started expanding into Central Ohio due to manysocial mediarequests from transplants now living in the area asking for Sheetz.[25]

Following the chain's successful expansion into the Columbus market, in April 2022 Sheetz announced an expansion into theDayton, Ohio,market beginning in 2024. The move will put Sheetz up head-to-head withCasey'sfor the first time, while also competing with Speedway, Circle K, and UDF in the market.[26][27]

Sheetz announced in November 2022 that the chain would expand intoMichigan,its first new state in over 20 years,[28]beginning inMetro Detroitwith a planned opening in 2025.[6]Sheetz then announced an expansion to nearbyGreater Toledoshortly thereafter.[29]On December 23, 2022, Sheetz announced an expansion intoWilmington, North Carolinato keep expanding south.

The first Sheetz inMontgomery County, Marylandopened in August 2023 inGaithersburg.[30]That month, Sheetz announced they would open a new distribution center inFindlay, Ohio,to support expansions into new markets.[31]Sheetz opened its firstMichiganlocation, inRomulus, Michigan,on August 27, 2024.[32]

A Sheetz location on itsgrand openinginLancaster, Ohioin 2024, featuring Sheetz's new sloped canopy for its fueling lanes.

Food service

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In 1986, to boost lagging sales, Earl Springer, the manager of a Sheetz inWilliamsport, Maryland,pursued a food concept that would become Sheetz's signatureMade To Order(MTO) line.[33]Beginning with onlysubmarine sandwiches,customers would fill out a small slip of paper, designating the ingredients they wanted on their sandwich, and in what quantity.[34][35]The order slip would be placed in a basket, and the kitchen staff would prepare the sub to the customer's order. Since that time, the menu expanded, and by the 1990s MTO was a sales leader for Sheetz.[36]Beginning in 1996, the paper ordering system was phased out in favor of a picture-based touchscreen computer system.[33]Now common at many restaurants and gas stations worldwide, Sheetz was the first company to implement this technology that has been very successful.

By 1999, Sheetz was selling 10,000 MTO units a day. Sheetz now trains employees to function asbaristasfor their newest brand of "Sheetz Bros. Coffeez", which are designed to be higher-gradecoffeethan typically found in convenience stores or other gas stations. With the introduction of the "Convenience Restaurant" concept, they have expanded their menu. Customers can purchase a wide variety of food items. The Espresso Bar, offering specialty coffees, is found at all locations. Sheetz regularly offers customers free coffee onChristmas DayandNew Year's Day.[37]During 2008–2009, Sheetz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps, fruits, veggies, and other small items for the hurried customer. Along with "MTGo!", Sheetz unveiled "Shweetz Bakery" items including donuts, fritters and muffins made and delivered daily from the "Sheetz Bros. Kitchen" inClaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Food-only stores

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In 2003, Sheetz opened a concept store in the food court ofHanes MallinWinston-Salem, North Carolina.This location offered Sheetz's made-to-order foods and fountain beverages in a more traditional fast food layout. It did not function as a convenience store.[38]The store has since closed.

In 2012, Sheetz again began contemplating "new concept", "fuel-free" locations.[39]In 2014, a plan was announced to open such a location on the campus ofWest Virginia University,inMorgantown, West Virginia.[40]The intent was to call it "Sheetz MTO Market". However, when opened in February 2015[41]the store was named "Sheetz Café" (although outdoor signage is the same as all other stores).

In September 2015, another no-fuel café opened inState College, Pennsylvania,near the campus ofPennsylvania State University.[42][43]InIndiana, Pennsylvania,on the border of theIndiana University of Pennsylvaniacampus, a Sheetz that previously carried gasoline was torn down, and replaced with a no-fuel café that opened in August 2016.[44][45][46][47]A fourth such location opened in September 2017, inCharlottesville, Virginia,directly across the street from the campus of theUniversity of Virginia.[48][49][50]

In September 2019, Sheetz announced they would not renew their lease with WVU for that Morgantown location.[51][52][53]The company offered no explanation for the closure. In May 2021, Sheetz announced that the Charlottesville location would close in June that was located on the corner at UVA.[54][55]

Alcohol sales in Pennsylvania

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Until June 8, 2016, Pennsylvania state law prohibited alcohol sales in convenience stores.Beerhad to be sold at a beer distributor whileliquorhad to be sold at state-operated stores titled "Wines & Spirits". In 2007, Sheetz tried to find aloopholearound this by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as arestaurant,which would permit alcohol sales.[56]The Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania protested and Sheetz was temporarily barred from selling beer.[57]On appeal, Sheetz was awarded the license to sell beer and continues to do so today. On June 15, 2009, thePennsylvania Supreme Courtgave Sheetz permission to sell beer for takeout under the condition that it is also available to drink on site.[58]Sheetz successfully led the effort to change alcohol sales laws in Pennsylvania to allow sales in convenience and grocery stores, which became law when GovernorTom Wolfsigned Act 39 into law on June 8, 2016.[59]

Fuel and tobacco sales

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A Sheetz tanker truck ready to refill the fuel tanks

The Sheetz stores that sell gasoline offer three grades of gasoline (87, 89, and 93 Octane) and most stores offerdiesel.An increasing number of stores also offerE85andE15,and some also offer ethanol free gasoline. Some stores offerkeroseneat separate pumps.

Sheetz is known for high fuel sales, mostly based on strong inside sales from their MTO's and other products that lead to sales at the pumps. In Pennsylvania, Sheetz is the market leader in all fuel sales at over 21%, ahead of all other competitor convenience store chains including those selling fuel fromBig Oilbrands such asExxon,Sunoco,andBP,all of which have a major presence in Pennsylvania alongside Sheetz.[25]

In addition to high fuel sales, Sheetz is also known for high sales oftobaccoproducts, often sellingcigarettesat state minimum prices. At one point, Sheetz sold its own brand of cigarettes called Jack's (named and themed after thetypeofplaying card), but stopped offering them in the 2010s in their stores.[60]

Awards

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  • Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association (2001).[61]
  • America's Largest Private Companies fromForbes(multiple years).[62]
  • Best Places to Work from Best Companies Group for Virginia and Pennsylvania (2012–2015)
  • Best Employers from Best Companies Group for North Carolina and Ohio (2013–2015)
  • 100 Best Companies to Work ForfromFortune(2014, 2016–2020)[63]
  • Alternative Fuels leader of the Year Award from Convenience Store news, for installingflex fuelsin North Carolina stores (2015)
  • Fan-Based Growth Award for adding 102,000 followers onFacebookandTwitter;Twitter Tweeter Award for most tweets of any convenience store; Award for Encouraging Fan Engagement Creatively and Consistently; all from Convenience Store Decisions (2016)
  • President's Trophy Award from theAmerican Trucking Associations,for vehicle safety program, small carrier category (2013)
  • 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials fromFortune(2016)

References

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  2. ^"Sheetz opens 700th store".CBS Pittsburgh.September 14, 2023.RetrievedOctober 5,2024.
  3. ^"What's a Sheetz?".Sheetz.RetrievedOctober 5,2024.
  4. ^Sheetz Shows It's Really a RestaurantCSP Daily News. March 07, 2012.
  5. ^"Sheetz® Frequently Asked Questions".Sheetz.RetrievedAugust 16,2018.
  6. ^abAinsworth, Amber (November 29, 2022)."24/7 Sheetz convenience store plans Detroit area locations".WJBK-TV.
  7. ^O'Connell, Jon (August 17, 2019)."There's a heated Sheetz/Wawa rivalry everywhere but here".The Citizens' Voice.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  8. ^Salamone, Anthony (August 1, 2019)."A Wawa or Sheetz on every corner? Here's what's driving the Lehigh Valley's convenience store boom".The Morning Call.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  9. ^"For The Record: People on the Move".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.October 25, 1995.ProQuest391750681.
  10. ^"Local Sheetz closed for 'major remodel'".October 3, 2023.
  11. ^Nephin, Dan (February 17, 2004). "Surging Sheetz Uses Food Service, Technology to Climb Billion-Seller Ranks".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.ProQuest390973548.
  12. ^"GM, Sheetz team up on ethanol".Pittsburgh Business Times.July 10, 2006.RetrievedJuly 17,2009.
  13. ^"GOVERNOR RENDELL UNVEILS 'PENNSECURITY FUELS INITIATIVE' TO LESSEN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL, GROW STATE'S CLEAN ENERGY MARKET".state.pa.us(Press release). Archived fromthe originalon September 23, 2006.
  14. ^"Altoona, Pa., changes name to Spurlock movie title".Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2011.RetrievedJune 1,2011.
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  22. ^Ciampi, Raquel (June 21, 2024)."Pirates and Sheetz partner for baseball club's first jersey patch".WTAE.RetrievedAugust 18,2024.
  23. ^Eaton, Dan (May 28, 2020)."Sheetz pursuing northwest Columbus location".Columbus Business First.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  24. ^Lindenberg, Greg (September 14, 2020)."Sheetz to Add 60 New Stores in Columbus Market".CSP Daily News.
  25. ^abWilliams, Mark (April 9, 2021)."First central Ohio Sheetz store to open Tuesday, shifting gas station landscape".The Columbus Dispatch.Archivedfrom the original on April 9, 2021.
  26. ^Schwartzberg, Eric (April 27, 2022)."Sheetz to open approximately 20 new stores in Dayton area".Dayton Daily News.RetrievedOctober 5,2024.
  27. ^Gutzwiller, Lawson (April 27, 2022)."Sheetz to open around 20 locations in Dayton area in next 5 years".WLWT 5.RetrievedOctober 5,2024.
  28. ^Witsil, Frank."Sheetz CEO visits to Romulus, learns about Michigan left, Detroit pizza and hand maps".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedAugust 27,2024.
  29. ^Pietrasz, Jake (November 29, 2022)."Sheetz announces plans to expand to Toledo, Detroit in 2025".13abc.RetrievedAugust 28,2024.
  30. ^Dyer, Robert (August 28, 2023)."Montgomery County's first Sheetz opens in Gaithersburg (Photos)".Rockville Nights.RetrievedAugust 28,2023.
  31. ^"Sheetz, Inc. announces $150 million facility in Findlay, intends to create 750 jobs over 5 years".wtol.August 28, 2023.RetrievedAugust 27,2024.
  32. ^Johnson, Myesha (August 27, 2024)."Sheetz opens first Michigan location. People waited hours in line for it".The Detroit News.RetrievedAugust 27,2024.
  33. ^abPhelps, Stan (August 19, 2016)."Sheetz Redefined The Convenience Store Customer Experience With MTO".Forbes.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  34. ^"Sheetz's Facebook timeline".Facebook.Archived fromthe originalon February 26, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
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  36. ^Beaumont, Shea (August 14, 2016)."30 years ago, Sheetz M-T-O sandwich creator predicted its success".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  37. ^"Pennsylvania-based C-stores Make News".Convenience Store News.December 29, 2008.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
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  40. ^Smith, Jennifer (March 6, 2014)."Sheetz to open unique fuel-free market at WVU".WV Metro News.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
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  44. ^Beaumont, Shea (August 14, 2016)."Sheetz focuses on colleges with its cafes".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  45. ^"Sheetz Café at IUP".Leonard S. Fiore, General Contractor.
  46. ^Cloud, Kristen (August 30, 2016)."Sheetz Debuting Four New Stores This Week".The Shelby Report.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  47. ^"Sheetz Opens 6 New Stores in 4 States".CSP Daily News.September 7, 2016.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
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  49. ^Lindenberg, Greg (September 28, 2017)."Inside the New Charlottesville Sheetz Cafe".CSP Daily News.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  50. ^Jones, Evan (September 27, 2017)."A Sheetz without gas pumps? They test attracting millennials with college-area cafes".WLNI.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  51. ^"Sheetz to leave University Place".The Daily Athenaeum.September 27, 2019.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  52. ^De La Cruz, Penny (September 29, 2019)."Sheetz's closure causes concern among students".The Daily Athenaeum.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  53. ^McClanahan, Cole (November 19, 2019)."WVU students hold memorial service for Sheetz".The Daily Athenaeum.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  54. ^Haynes, Carly (May 22, 2019)."Sheetz on the UVA Corner will be closing in June".CBS 19 News.Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2021.
  55. ^"Sheetz location on University Avenue to close in June".The Cavalier Daily - University of Virginia's Student Newspaper.RetrievedFebruary 8,2022.
  56. ^"Sheetz, Inc. Announces Alcohol Sales in Pennsylvania"(Press release). Sheetz.RetrievedJuly 17,2009– via PR Newswire.
  57. ^"Court Rules Against Beer In Convenience Store".kdka. February 23, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon March 18, 2008.RetrievedJuly 17,2009.
  58. ^"Court OKs beer to-go but Sheetz must also sell on-site".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.June 16, 2009.RetrievedNovember 25,2012.
  59. ^"Act 39 of 2016".lcb.pa.gov.RetrievedJuly 15,2018.
  60. ^"11 Made to Order Facts About Sheetz".April 11, 2021.
  61. ^Spector, Amy (2001)."IFMA awards Gold & Silver Plate winners, honors operator Hurst | Nation's Restaurant News | Find Articles at BNET".Findarticles.RetrievedJuly 17,2009.
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