Sheetz

Owned and operated by a hands-on family team, Sheetz surpasses many convenience stores with its levels of efficiencies in foodservice, distribution and technology. Sheetz Inc., based in Altoona, Pa., has revenues of about $6 billion from its 510 locations throughout Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and West Virginia.

The company, which grew out of a single dairy store that founder Bob Sheetz purchased from his father in 1952, has become one of the c-store industry's premier operators. The company's Creation and Reinvention initiative helps spawn new retail and restaurant concepts.

The company has more than 16,000 employees working at stores, corporate offices and support sites. For the first time in 2014, the company appeared on Fortune magazine's annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, debuting at No. 87. In 2015, it was again named a Top Place to Work in Pennsylvania by the Team Pennsylvania Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Headquarters:	Altoona, Pennsylvania
No. of Stores:	510
Average Store Size:	4,000+ sq. ft.
Rank:	19
Rank Last Year:	20
States of Operation:	Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Website:	http://www.sheetz.com
Family Business:	Yes

Creating a food-first impression in the store added visual drama to the atmosphere.

Sheetz saw frozen noncarbonated beverages as an untapped potential, so the new store offers multiple flavor options.

A long row of high-top seating gives customers a place to wait for orders, dine alone or sit in groups.

Seen from the second-floor lobby of the student apartments, the grocery section of the store offers a convenient option for residents.

From innovation think-tank to actual floorplan, the concept of a Sheetz “café” went through several incarnations before becoming a reality, with foodservice (1) dominating the vision ...

... and grocery (2) playing a supporting role. Depending on how the sales figures evolve, Sheetz has room to play with, because the company can build out the areas behind the grocery coolers and shelves (3).