Sheetz–Wawa rivalry

Last updated

Sheetz Store 543 - Fredericksburg, Virginia.jpg
Wawa (53589295252).jpg
Sheetz and Wawa stores

In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the convenience store chains Sheetz and Wawa each have distinct and mostly non-overlapping territories. Sheetz primarily keeps its stores in Western Pennsylvania, while Wawa stores are primarily located in the Delaware Valley. This division is strongly apparent in the culture of regional identity in the state, with many Pennsylvanians often strongly preferring one or the other. State politicians in Pennsylvania often make public statements in support of and campaign stops at their preferred convenience store chain.

Contents

Origins

Sheetz-Wawa rivalry
Map of Sheetz and Wawa store locations in Pennsylvania

Sheetz is headquartered in Altoona, Pennsylvania, [1] while Wawa is based in its namesake community of Wawa, Pennsylvania. [2] During the rise of self-service fuel stations in the 20th century, both companies improved their convenience store offerings to entice motorists to spend money on more than just fuel. [3] Both chains receive high marks in consumer satisfaction, with Wawa being placed first and Sheetz fourth in the 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey of convenience stores, [4] outperforming some fast food chains. [5]

Sheetz and Wawa have historically kept their operations in their respective regions. [6] When a store opens near or across the traditional dividing line, it is often local news. [7] [8] [9] An urban legend posits that the two companies have a gentlemen's agreement not to intrude on each other's territory; [7] however, the president of Wawa revealed in 2024 that no such agreement had ever existed. [10] There are plans to build both a Wawa and a Sheetz at the same intersection in Phoenixville in southeastern Pennsylvania. [11]

As a cultural signifier

The divide between fans of Sheetz and Wawa has been described as the "most heated food rivalry in the country". [8] Amongst Pennsylvanians, the choice of convenience store is a cultural signifier of regional identity. [12] The Spectator described Sheetz as having a "cultural hegemony" in central Pennsylvania, [13] and The New York Times described its fans as having sworn a "fealty" to the store. [14] Likewise, Wawa fans including Johnny Knoxville [15]  have gotten tattoos of the store logo, [16] demonstrating what Philadelphia magazine called a "cult-like customer devotion". [17]

State politicians in Pennsylvania often make public statements in support of and campaign stops at their preferred convenience store chain. In 2020, U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle and lieutenant governor John Fetterman wrote competing op-eds in The Philadelphia Inquirer arguing for the merits of Wawa and Sheetz, respectively, [18] and a year later engaged in a debate on the topic. [7] [19] Some national politicians also take care to visit the convenience store of the region in which they are trying to earn votes. During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the Kamala Harris campaign appealed to both Sheetz and Wawa voters; vice presidential nominee Tim Walz received rebuke from Eastern Pennsylvanians after mentioning having visited a Sheetz, [20] [21] while the campaign ran ads in Philadelphia with puns on the name "Wawa". [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convenience store</span> Small store that stocks a range of everyday items

A convenience store, convenience shop, bodega, corner store, corner shop, or superette is a small retail store that stocks a range of everyday items such as convenience food, groceries, beverages, tobacco products, lottery tickets, over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, newspapers and magazines.

7-Eleven, Inc. is a American convenience store chain, headquartered in Irving, Texas. The chain was founded in 1927 as the Southland Ice Company, operating an ice house storefront in Dallas. Then-owned by Southland Corporation, the number of convenience stores expanded and were named Tote'm Stores between 1928 and 1946. Southland Corporation changed the stores' name to 7-Eleven in 1946, reflecting expanded hours of operation. Southland Corporation started franchising its stores in 1961; in 1973 Ito-Yokado, a Japanese supermarket chain, signed a franchisee agreement with Southland Corporation to develop 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan. Operating the Japanese stores under Seven-Eleven Japan, Ito-Yokado acquired a 70% stake in Southland Corporation in 1991; as majority owner, it changed Southland Corporation's name to 7-Eleven, Inc. that same year, then expanded to 100% ownership in November 2005, making 7-Eleven, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven-Eleven Japan. Ito-Yokado reorganized its collective businesses as a holding company in 2005, Seven & I Holdings, with 7-Eleven, Inc. wholly held by Seven-Eleven Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel-Osco</span> American supermarket chain

Jewel-Osco is a regional supermarket chain in the Chicago metropolitan area, headquartered in Itasca, a western suburb. In 2007, the company had 188 stores across northern, central, and western Illinois; eastern Iowa; and portions of northwest Indiana. Jewel-Osco has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Boise-based Albertsons since 1999. The company originally started as a door-to-door coffee delivery service before it expanded into delivering non-perishable groceries and later into grocery stores, and supermarkets. Prior to its 1984 acquisition by American Stores, Jewel evolved into a large multi-state holding company that operated several supermarket chains and other non-food retail chain stores located from coast to coast and had operated under several different brand names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wawa (company)</span> American convenience store chain

Wawa, Inc. is an American chain of convenience stores and gas stations originating in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and located along the East Coast of the United States, operating in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia. Wawa is based in, primarily associated with, and mainly concentrated in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, though in recent years it has gradually expanded its store locations beyond the Philadelphia area. The company's corporate headquarters is located in the Wawa area of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania in Greater Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Eagle</span> American supermarket chain

Giant Eagle, Inc. is an American supermarket chain with stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland. The company was founded in 1918 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and incorporated on August 31, 1931. Supermarket News ranked Giant Eagle 21st on the "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on sales of $11 billion. In 2021, it was the 36th-largest privately held company, as determined by Forbes. Based on 2005 revenue, Giant Eagle is the 49th-largest retailer in the United States. As of summer 2014, the company had approximately $9.9 billion in annual sales. As of fall 2023, Giant Eagle, Inc. had 496 stores across the portfolio: 211 supermarkets 8 standalone pharmacies, 274 fuel station/convenience stores under the GetGo banner, and three standalone car wash under the WetGo banner. The company is headquartered in an office park in Cranberry Township, PA in Butler County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheetz</span> American retail chain

Sheetz, Inc. is an American chain of convenience stores. Its stores, which are open 24/7 year-round, offer made-to-order fast food, and most include a gas station, while a few locations are full-scale truck stops, offering showers and a laundromat. The family-owned company has over 21,000 employees, and operates more than 750 company-owned stores located in Western, Central, and Northeastern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawson (store)</span> Japanese convenience store chain

Lawson, Inc. is a convenience store franchise chain in Japan. The store originated in the United States in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, but exists today as a Japanese company based in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The company has its headquarters in East Tower of Gate City Ohsaki in Ōsaki, Shinagawa, Tokyo.

APlus is an American convenience store chain owned and operated by Energy Transfer Partners, with some stores currently owned by Seven & I Holdings (7-Eleven). APlus is also the convenience store chain used by Sunoco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neshaminy Mall</span> Shopping mall in Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Neshaminy Mall is a 1,025,297-square-foot (95,253 m2) shopping mall located at U.S. Route 1 and Bristol Road in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. The mall was opened in 1968 and was the sixth interior mall constructed in Greater Philadelphia. The Neshaminy Mall is anchored by Boscov's and AMC Theatres and has 40 shops and eateries including a food court that was opened in 1989 and retailers including Barnes & Noble.

Genuardi's Family Markets L.P. was a chain of supermarkets located in the Northeastern United States. The store was family-owned. In 2000, it was purchased by Safeway. Its headquarters was in East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania in Montgomery County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wawa, Pennsylvania</span> Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, United States

Wawa is an unincorporated community located in Delaware County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in Greater Philadelphia, partially in Middletown Township and partially in Chester Heights Borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Giant Company</span> American supermarket chain

The Giant Company is an American regional supermarket chain that operates in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia under the Giant and Martin's brands. It is a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize, and headquartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. As of September 2020, the company operated 190 stores, 133 pharmacies, and 105 fuel stations. The chain also provides online shopping and delivery to New Jersey through Giant Direct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GetGo</span> Convenience store chain based in Pennsylvania

GetGo, also known as GetGo Cafe & Market, is a convenience store chain owned and operated by Giant Eagle. Both are based in suburban Pittsburgh. The chain operates locations in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol laws of Pennsylvania</span> Laws about the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

The alcohol laws of Pennsylvania contain many peculiarities not found in other states, and are considered some of the strictest regulations in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Farms</span> American chain of convenience stores

Royal Farms is a privately owned chain of convenience stores headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The company operates more than 200 stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Many of the stores also have gasoline and electric vehicle charging sold on the premises, as well as house-made fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and fries as well as the giant seasonal cockerel statues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rutter's</span> Convenience store chain in the United States

Rutter's is a chain of convenience stores and gas stations with 86 locations in Eastern, Central and Western Pennsylvania, the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and central Maryland. Stores are open 24 hours a day and have a made-to-order food counter, staffed around the clock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QuikTrip</span> American convenience store chain

The QuikTrip Corporation, more commonly known as QuikTrip (QT), is an American chain of convenience stores based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that operates in the Midwestern, Southern, and Western United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkey Hill Minit Markets</span> American convenience store chain

Turkey Hill Minit Markets is an American chain of convenience stores founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1966. As of October 2017, Turkey Hill Minit Markets had over 260 locations across Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Turkey Hill Minit Markets is owned by EG Group and operated independently from Turkey Hill, a separate Peak Rock Capital-owned brand of iced tea, ice cream and other beverages and frozen desserts.

Chris Gheysens is an American businessman who serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wawa Inc., a privately held chain of convenience store and gas stations with over 1000 locations along the East Coast of the United States.

References

  1. Ken Otterbourg (May 6, 2013). "Sheetz puts the gas in gastronomy". Fortune . ISSN   0015-8259. Wikidata   Q130710164. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021.
  2. Cynthia Mayer (June 15, 1989). "Pay a visit to Wawa, the place". The Philadelphia Inquirer . ISSN   0885-6613. Wikidata   Q130719869. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013.
  3. Robert C. Wolcott (2006). "Wawa: Building a new business within an established firm". Sage Business Cases. doi:10.4135/9781526449429. Wikidata   Q130710126.
  4. Jordan Valinsky (October 1, 2024). "A winner has been crowned between Wawa and Sheetz for convenience store superiority". CNN Business . Wikidata   Q131148701. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Wawa, the Philadelphia-based convenience store chain that has earned a loyal following for its hoagies, received the highest marks for customer satisfaction among all US chains, according to a survey released Tuesday by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Meanwhile, Wawa's cross-state rival Sheetz landed in fourth place. The gulf between the two was only three points, with Wawa earning 82 out of 100 and Sheetz getting a score of 79.
  5. American Customer Satisfaction Index (October 1, 2024), Wawa takes first place in inaugural convenience store study, ACSI data show, Business Wire, Wikidata   Q131148673, archived from the original on October 1, 2024, While the convenience store average score of 80 for cooked food quality trails the fast food industry (84), stores like Wawa, Buc-ee's, Casey's General Stores, Kwik Trip, and Sheetz meet or exceed fast food chains on this metric.
  6. Thomas J. Baldino; Paula A. Duda Holoviak (2024), Pennsylvania Government and Politics: Understanding Public Policy in the Keystone State, Penn State University Press, doi:10.5325/JJ.15238523, OCLC   1430976239, OL   37858991W, Wikidata   Q130710032, Devotees of the Quaker State's two famous convenience store chains—Wawa and Sheetz—are also mostly divided geographically: east and west, respectively.
  7. 1 2 3 Stephanie Farr (September 19, 2024). "Wawa stakes its claim in Sheetz territory with its first Central Pa. store". The Philadelphia Inquirer . ISSN   0885-6613. Wikidata   Q130710183. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Matt DiSanto (March 7, 2023). "Wawa's move to Sheetz territory could stoke the 'most heated food rivalry in the country'". Centre Daily Times . ISSN   0745-483X. Wikidata   Q130710114. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023.
  9. Sue Gleiter (June 24, 2022). "Sheetz vs. Wawa: Is a convenience store battle about to be waged in central Pa.?". The Patriot-News . Wikidata   Q130710089. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  10. Jared Weaver (April 17, 2024). "Wawa president answers urban legend over Sheetz vs Wawa 'agreement'". WHTM-TV . Wikidata   Q130719665. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024.
  11. https://www.inquirer.com/news/wawa-sheetz-phoenixville-gas-stations-neighbors-20240622.html
  12. Mary Kate Skehan (May 21, 2021). "On the frontlines of the Pennsylvania gas station war". The Spectator . ISSN   0038-6952. Wikidata   Q130741027. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024.
  13. Teresa Mull (April 20, 2023). "Inside Pennsylvania's gas station wars". The Spectator . ISSN   0038-6952. Wikidata   Q130741029. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023.
  14. Trip Gabriel (February 9, 2013). "Fuel and food are quick, but the fealty is forever". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Wikidata   Q130710153. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013.
  15. Robert Klara (September 13, 2021). "Wawa's journey from small-town dairy to convenience store phenomenon". Adweek . ISSN   0199-2864. Wikidata   Q130710369. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. MTV's Jackass actor and stuntman Johnny Knoxville sports a Wawa tattoo.
  16. Ben Flanagan (May 18, 2022). "Wawa tattoo? This guy loves it that much, and here's why Alabama will too". Alabama Media Group. Wikidata   Q130710406. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022.
  17. Don Steinberg (July 27, 2011). "It's a Wawa world". Philadelphia . ISSN   0031-7233. Wikidata   Q130710324. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021.
  18. Brendan F. Boyle; John Fetterman (July 23, 2020). "Is Sheetz better than Wawa? Pa. politicians throw down over mac 'n' cheeze bites and hoagies". The Philadelphia Inquirer . ISSN   0885-6613. Wikidata   Q130710191. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020.
  19. Jenny Dehuff (June 16, 2021). "Wawa vs. Sheetz: Let's look at some stats leading up to the big debate". City & State Pennsylvania . Wikidata   Q130941331. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022.
  20. J. Staas Haught; Karissa Waddick. "Did Walz diss Wawa? What VP nominee said about Sheetz, Wawa". The News Journal . ISSN   1042-4121. Wikidata   Q130710173. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024.
  21. Bill Shannon (August 20, 2024). "Sheetz or Wawa: VP nominee Walz weighs in on the Pennsylvania debate". WTAJ-TV . Wikidata   Q130710169. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024.
  22. Aliya Schneider (September 9, 2024). "Harris campaign to feature Wawa, cheesesteaks, and pretzels in Philly ads on debate day". The Philadelphia Inquirer . ISSN   0885-6613. Wikidata   Q130710176. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Philadelphia loves Wawa and will fiercely defend it any day against Sheetz. But here, the campaign used the Philly staple to mock Trump.