Sheetz wins over the Midwest
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A Sheetz store in Columbus, Ohio, in May. Photo: Brian Kaiser/Bloomberg via Getty Images
It's debatable whether Southwestern Pennsylvania is part of the Midwest, but our popular convenience store chain is staking a claim there anyway.
The big picture: The Sheetz empire has been expanding from its Altoona base, and customers in the Midwest are embracing it over its competitors, according to a new American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey.
- This bodes well for Sheetz's continual push deeper into the territory, including more stores in Michigan and a new frontier in Indiana.
Driving the news: ACSI ranked Sheetz the top convenience store in the Midwest with a customer satisfaction score of 83, the highest regional score in the survey.
Zoom in: Sheetz's ranking in the Midwest was 3 points higher than its national average score of 80.
- The chain's national score dropped 2 points from last year.
What they're saying: "This momentum has been reinforced by the enthusiastic response to our unique offerings in new Midwest markets," said CEO Travis Sheetz in an April statement announcing the company's Midwest expansion plans.
By the numbers: There are about 140 Sheetz stores in Ohio, and the company expects to have nearly 20 in Michigan by the end of this year.
- Sheetz plans to build 100 locations over the next 10 years in Indiana, per an April news release.
- Nationally, there are more than 850 Sheetz stores.
Flashback: The first Sheetz store opened in Altoona in 1952.
- The chain first expanded into the Midwest after it opened a location outside Youngstown, Ohio, about 30 years ago.
Between the lines: The expansion deeper into the Midwest is possible due to a new state-of-the-art food preparation and distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, which opened last week about 45 minutes south of Toledo.
State of play: The chain's marketing has kicked into high gear this year.
- It sponsored free light-rail rides for the Pittsburgh NFL draft this year.
- It teamed up with Pirates' star pitcher Paul Skenes on a new footlong hot dog.
- Popular YouTube channel First We Feast made a miniseries using Sheetz ingredients last month.
Friction point: Sheetz has brushed up against in-state rival Wawa's territory, and the Philly-area chain is also moving into Sheetz territory in Ohio and parts of Central Pennsylvania.
What's next: Sheetz plans to open its first Indiana store in Indianapolis by late summer of 2027, per WANE-TV.