ALTOONA, Pa. -- Sheetz Inc.’s MTO (Made-To-Order) Olympics kick off at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. This will be the 11th year of the competition which started with 410, three-person teams competing locally, regionally and finally, nationally. On Tuesday, the best 12 teams will compete for the title.
During the competition leading up to the title round, each team prepared exactly the same food items, with the items becoming more complicated as the competition advanced. Judging criteria includes recipe accuracy, portioning, preparation speed, presentation and food-handling safety.
“MTO food is the hallmark of our business,” said Sheetz CEO Stan Sheetz. “So to be taken seriously by customers as a place for great food, our employees making the food also have to take it seriously. This competition was developed as a fun, clever way to engage them and to make the point that we are a serious contender in the food and beverage category.”
For Tuesday’s final competition, kitchen equipment will be set-up exactly like it is in store kitchens to replicate actual store settings. The teams will be required to make food items, as well as prepare specialty drinks that are offered in every store.
“It’s a very elaborate competition, and our judges are exacting in the level of quality on which the teams will be evaluated,” Sheetz said. “Every team competing at this level should be proud of their accomplishment to be one of 12 teams from among our more than 400 stores. They will not only compete for the title, but also can receive some significant cash and other prizes.”
The competition will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Winners will be named immediately after the competition. Many of the teams will bring their own cheering sections from their local stores.
Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pa., Sheetz Inc. is one of America’s fastest-growing family-owned and -operated convenience restaurant chains, with more than $5 billion in annual revenue and more than 14,500 employees. The company operates 412 locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.
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