Sheetz

1950s–1980s

Sheetz, Inc was founded by Bob Sheetz in 1952 when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1961, Bob hired his brother Steve to work part-time at the store.

In 1963 the second store was opened under the name "Sheetz Kwik Shopper." Five years later, they opened the third store. In 1969, Steve joined Bob in the business as 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 added gasoline pumps and introduced self-serve gasoline to Central Pennsylvania.

By 1983, Bob and Steve had opened 100 stores. The following year, Bob retired and handed over the leadership of the company to his brother Steve.

1990s

In 1995, Stan Sheetz, Bob's son, became president and Steve assumed the position of Chairman of the Board. To this day, Sheetz maintains a family business with four family members serving on the Executive Committee.

During the mid-1990s, Sheetz also sold It! Cola, the chain's own private-label brand of soft drinks available in cans, bottles, and as fountain drinks. The drink was discontinued and the fountains were replaced with Pepsi products. The chain now has both Pepsi and Coca-Cola products in the fountains.

2000s

In 2001, Sheetz opened a distribution center in Claysburg, Pennsylvania. First deliveries from this facility were of bottled water and supplies to first responders in New York City and at the Pentagon following the terrorist attacks on September 11.

In 2003, Sheetz opened a concept store in the food court of Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This location offered Sheetz' made-to-order foods and fountain beverages in a more traditional fast food layout; it did not function as a convenience store. The store has since closed.

In December 2004 they began offering the new Sheetz MasterCard PayPass with RFID technology built into the card, and was one of the first retailers of any sector to accept such technology, ahead of McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and rival 7-Eleven, all of which rolled it out nationally in 2006.

On July 10, 2006 Sheetz became Pennsylvania's second retail chain to offer E85 ethanol-based fuel alternative at select stations.

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

2010s

Sheetz now has more than 600 locations across six states — Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina — and more than 17,000 employees. All Sheetz stores are company-owned-and-operated. The company has no plans to sell franchises.

In 2012, Sheets opened a fitness and wellness center for employees in Claysburg, Pennsylvania, called the Sheetz Center for Shwellness. The building is LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The first building to achieve Gold standard in LEED certification in Blair County.

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

Sheetz opened its second distribution center and commissary in Burlington, North Carolina (2014).

Food service

Sheetz started off with their signature "MTO" name, which stands for "Made To Order." By 1999, Sheetz was selling 10,000 MTO units a day. Sheetz now trains employees to function as baristas for their newest brand of "Sheetz Bros. Coffeez", which are designed to be higher-grade coffee than typically found in convenience stores. With the introduction of the "Convenience Restaurant" concept, they have expanded their menu. Customers can purchase made-to-order sandwiches and hot dogs, as well as pizza, burritos, breakfast items, salads and chili. French fries, chicken strips, and other fried appetizers are available at all locations. The Espresso Bar, which offers specialty coffees, are also available at all locations. During 2008-2009, Sheetz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps and other small items for the customer in a hurry. Along with "MTGo!", Sheetz unveiled "Shweetz Bakery" items including donuts, fritters and muffins all made and delivered daily from the new "Sheetz Bros. Kitchen" in Claysburg, PA.

Sheetz regularly offers customers free coffee on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Alcohol sales in Pennsylvania

Sheetz is leading the effort in attempts to change alcohol sales laws in Pennsylvania to allow sales in convenience stores. By Pennsylvania state law, alcohol can't be sold in convenience stores (beer must be sold at a beer distributor while hard liquor must be sold at state-operated stores titled "Wines & Spirits"). In 2007, Sheetz tried to find a loophole around this by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant, which would permit alcohol sales. However, the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania protested and Sheetz was temporarily barred from selling beer. On appeal, Sheetz was awarded the license to sell beer and continues to do so today. On June 15, 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gave Sheetz permission to sell beer for takeout under the condition that it is also available to drink on site.

Fuel

Most Sheetz stores sell gasoline, featuring three grades of gasoline (octanes 87, 89, and 92/93), most offer kerosene, and many offer diesel. A few Sheetz gas stations in the Pittsburgh and Harrisburg areas, as well locations in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Wytheville, Virginia, and in several areas of North Carolina have begun to offer E85. Some stores in North Carolina have also started to offer E15. The only Sheetz stores that do not sell gasoline are located in Morgantown, West Virginia in the newly constructed University Place Condominiums of West Virginia University and in State College, Pennsylvania next to Penn State University; and a small café concept store in Indiana, Pennsylvania, next to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Awards

Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association(2001).

America's Largest Private Companies from Forbes (multiple years).

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 For® from Fortune® (2014, 2016)

Alternative Fuels leader of the Year Award from Convenience Store news, for installing flex fuels in North Carolina stores (2015)

Fan-Based Growth Award for adding 102,000 Sheetz Freakz on Facebook and Twitter; 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 the American Trucking Association, for our vehicle safety program, small carrier category (2013)

100 Best Workplaces for Millennials from Fortune® (2016)