Sheetz

Sheetz, Inc.

Company type	Private, family-owned
Industry	Convenience stores, fast food, fuel retailing
Founded	1952 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
Founder	G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz
Headquarters	Altoona , United States
Area served	Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan
Key people	Travis R. Sheetz (President and CEO), Stanton R. Sheetz (Chairman), Joseph S. Sheetz (Vice Chairman), Steve Sheetz (Family Council Chairman)
Products	Made-to-order fast food, fuel, convenience items
Revenue	Approximately US$7.2 billion (FY 2021)
Number of employees	25,000+ (Not specified (current))
Website	www.sheetz.com

Sheetz, Inc. is a U.S.-based convenience store chain that operates continuously throughout the year. Its outlets offer made-to-order fast food and commonly include fueling stations; certain branches also serve as comprehensive truck stops, providing facilities such as showers and laundromats. This family-owned enterprise employs in excess of 25,000 individuals and manages over 750 company-operated locations spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan.

Dominating much of Pennsylvania's market, Sheetz holds significant presence in cities like Altoona, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and the Wyoming Valley. However, it does not operate in Philadelphia or the Delaware Valley regions due to competition with Wawa, which has fostered a well-known rivalry between the two brands. Despite this competitive tension, Sheetz and Wawa maintain a cordial corporate rapport.

Leadership within the company includes Travis R. Sheetz as president and CEO, Stanton R. Sheetz serving as chairman, Joseph S. Sheetz as vice chairman, and Steve Sheetz acting as Family Council chairman. In fiscal year 2021, the company reported revenues near US$7.2 billion, underscoring its robust performance across convenience retailing, quick-service food, and fuel sales.

1952–1995

The origins of Sheetz, Inc. trace back to 1952 when entrepreneur G. Robert "Bob" Sheetz acquired one of his father’s dairy stores located in Altoona. Steve Sheetz joined the team part-time in 1961 as Bob’s brother. By 1963, the business had opened its second outlet under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper," followed by a third store in 1968. In 1969, Steve was appointed general manager; the brothers pursued an expansion plan aiming for one new store annually, reaching seven stores by 1972. That same year saw the number of outlets double to fourteen and marked the introduction of gasoline sales featuring central Pennsylvania’s first self-service pumps in 1973. The chain ventured beyond Pennsylvania with its first store in Maryland in 1976.

Bob retired in 1981 with Steve stepping into the role of president. By 1983, Sheetz had grown to 100 stores and eliminated "Kwik Shopper" from its branding.

1995–2013

In 1995, R. "Stan" Sheetz—Bob’s son—assumed the presidency while Steve transitioned to chairman of the board, maintaining a family-led leadership structure that included four family members on the executive committee.

During the mid-1990s, Sheetz phased out its proprietary It! Cola brand in favor of Pepsi products alongside Coca-Cola selections. Expansion efforts resumed in 1997 with an entry into Ohio via a store near Youngstown along Interstate 80. The company introduced touchscreen ordering technology and subsequently expanded into North Carolina. To support its growth, a distribution center was established in Claysburg, Pennsylvania in 2001.

In December 2004, Sheetz became an early adopter of MasterCard PayPass using RFID technology—preceding competitors like McDonald's and 7-Eleven.

Starting July 2006, select locations began offering E85 ethanol fuel options, making Sheetz Pennsylvania’s second retail chain to provide this alternative fuel. In 2008, the company inaugurated its first commissary—Sheetz Bros. Kitchen—to supply freshly prepared sandwiches and baked goods throughout its stores.

Sheetz gained national recognition in 2011 by sponsoring Morgan Spurlock’s documentary POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, promoting it through in-store advertising and collectible cups. As part of this campaign, Altoona temporarily adopted the film’s title ceremonially for $25,000.

2013–present

In October 2013, Stan Sheetz assumed the role of chairman of the board, while his cousin Joseph S. "Joe" Sheetz was named president and chief executive officer.

Kenneth Womack's Made to Order: The Sheetz Story, published in November 2013, details the company’s evolution from its beginnings as a dairy store to its present-day prominence. The following year, Sheetz enhanced its distribution network by inaugurating a second logistics and kitchen facility located in Burlington, North Carolina. Sales for the fiscal year 2018–2019 reached $7.5 billion, demonstrating substantial business expansion.

Sheetz further invested in technology by opening an IT innovation center in Pittsburgh’s Bakery Square complex in 2019, establishing a secondary headquarters; this facility was further enlarged in 2023. On December 19, 2019, the company celebrated a significant achievement by launching its 600th store in Shaler Township, Pennsylvania.

In April 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Sheetz alleging discriminatory hiring practices connected to criminal background checks that adversely affected minority candidates. By June 2024, Sheetz secured a sponsorship agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, featuring its logo on the team’s jerseys and strengthening its presence within the local market; notably, the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve, operates in Sheetz’s hometown.

2020s expansions

In November 2019, Sheetz announced intentions to enter the Greater Columbus market starting in 2021, aiming to establish 60 stores by 2025—more than doubling its footprint in Ohio. Although initial plans to expand into Columbus were considered during the late 1990s, focus had shifted to North Carolina at that time; recent demand on social media from Ohio residents originally from other states reignited interest. The first outlets opened in Delaware, Ohio, in April 2021.

Building on success in Columbus, Sheetz declared plans for a 2024 expansion into the Dayton, Ohio area with approximately 20 new stores over five years, entering direct competition with Casey's, Speedway, Circle K, and United Dairy Farmers.

In November 2022, Sheetz unveiled plans to enter Michigan, marking its first entry into a new state in over two decades by targeting Metro Detroit for openings slated for 2025. Shortly thereafter, expansion into the Greater Toledo was announced. Additional southern growth was announced in December 2022 with a new store planned for Wilmington, North Carolina. In August 2023, Sheetz launched its inaugural location in Montgomery County, Maryland at Gaithersburg and revealed a $150 million investment for a distribution center in Findlay, Ohio—intended to support these expansions and generate 750 jobs within five years.

The company's first Michigan store opened in Romulus on August 27, 2024. Around this time frame, Sheetz also debuted its first Greater Cincinnati location in Franklin, Ohio.

Food service

The Made To Order (MTO) concept was introduced by Earl Springer—manager of a Sheetz store in Williamsport, Maryland—in 1986 as a strategy to increase sales. Initially focusing on submarine sandwiches, customers customized their orders using written slips that were then prepared by kitchen staff. By the 1990s, MTO had become one of Sheetz’s top-selling categories. In 1996, paper order slips were replaced with an innovative touchscreen interface featuring images—a pioneering move that has since become standard across many restaurants and convenience stores globally.

By 1999, daily sales of MTO items reached approximately 10,000 units. Additionally, Sheetz developed "Sheetz Bros. Coffeez," training employees as baristas to provide high-quality coffee options beyond typical convenience store offerings. The "Convenience Restaurant" model broadened the menu to include an extensive range of food selections and specialty coffee beverages available at all locations. Customer loyalty is encouraged through promotions such as complimentary coffee on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Between 2008 and 2009, Sheetz introduced "MTGo!", a grab-and-go assortment featuring sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit, and snacks designed for customers on the move. Simultaneously, "Shweetz Bakery" launched freshly baked items produced daily at the "Sheetz Bros. Kitchen" facility in Claysburg, Pennsylvania, enhancing product variety and supporting continued growth.

Food-only locations

In 2003, Sheetz launched a concept store within the food court at Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, focusing exclusively on made-to-order meals and beverages in a quick-service format, without any convenience store amenities. This particular outlet has since ceased operations.

By 2012, Sheetz began experimenting with "fuel-free" outlets, revealing plans in 2014 for a location on the West Virginia University campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Debuting in February 2015 as "Sheetz Café," this site maintained the company's branding but operated without selling fuel. Additional no-fuel cafés followed near prominent universities: Pennsylvania State University in 2015, Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016, and University of Virginia in 2017. These sites were designed to cater to college communities, emphasizing made-to-order food selections.

In September 2019, Sheetz announced it would not renew the lease for the Morgantown café without providing a reason. The Charlottesville location closed its doors in June 2021. These closures illustrate strategic shifts within Sheetz’s business approach aimed at refining market focus and enhancing operational effectiveness within key demographic segments.

Alcohol sales regulations in Pennsylvania

Prior to June 8, 2016, Pennsylvania law barred convenience stores from selling alcoholic beverages; beer was available solely through beer distributors, and liquor was sold exclusively at state-run "Wines & Spirits" shops. In 2007, Sheetz sought to bypass this restriction by classifying part of a prototype store in Altoona as a restaurant to enable alcohol sales. This move was contested by the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, resulting in a temporary injunction against Sheetz’s beer sales. However, upon appeal, Sheetz obtained a license authorizing beer sales and has continued this practice since. In 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Sheetz could sell beer for takeout if it was also served for on-premises consumption. Sheetz actively advocated for changes to state alcohol laws, culminating with Governor Tom Wolf signing Act 39 into law on June 8, 2016, which authorized alcohol sales within convenience and grocery stores.

Fuel and tobacco offerings

Sheetz provides three octane levels for gasoline (87, 89, and 93), with most locations also offering diesel fuel. A growing number of sites supply E85 and E15 ethanol blends along with some ethanol-free gasoline; select stations additionally sell kerosene. The company’s robust inside sales from Made-To-Order (MTO) products contribute to substantial fuel volume, positioning Sheetz as the leading fuel retailer in Pennsylvania with a market share exceeding 21%, surpassing competitors such as Exxon, Sunoco, and BP.

Besides fuel, Sheetz is recognized for significant tobacco product sales, frequently pricing cigarettes at the state-mandated minimums. The company formerly marketed its own cigarette brand named Jack's but discontinued it during the 2010s.

Accolades

• Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association (2001)
• Featured multiple times on Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies
• Best Places to Work honors from Best Companies Group for Virginia and Pennsylvania (2012–2015)
• Best Employers recognition by Best Companies Group for North Carolina and Ohio (2013–2015)
• Listed among Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For (2014, 2016–2020)
• Alternative Fuels Leader of the Year Award from Convenience Store News for flex fuel installations in North Carolina outlets (2015)
• Fan-Based Growth and Twitter Tweeter Awards from Convenience Store Decisions acknowledging social media engagement (2016)
• President's Trophy Award from the American Trucking Associations recognizing vehicle safety program excellence in the small carrier category (2013)
• Named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials (2016)

External links

• Official site