Dive Brief:
- Sheetz has outlined plans to spend $145 million building a new food preparation and distribution facility in Findlay, Ohio, according to a Monday announcement.
- The facility is expected to create more than 700 jobs over the next five years, according to the announcement. It’s slated to open in 2026, according to the company’s website.
- Once complete, the facility will support Sheetz’s expansions in Ohio and Michigan, a company spokesperson said. Sheetz currently operates 76 locations in Ohio and is building its first store in Michigan, where it has “ambitious plans to grow,” Brian Dinges, assistant vice president of real estate for the convenience retailer, said earlier this year.
Dive Insight:
This will be Sheetz’s fourth distribution center, joining similar facilities in Burlington, North Carolina and Claysburg and Prospect, Pennsylvania.
Sheetz is currently looking to hire a director for the Findlay facility. Since it doesn’t open until 2026, whoever fills this role will initially travel to Sheetz’s Claysburg and Burlington facilities for training and to assist with design, construction and equipment selection.
Employees at Sheetz’s distribution centers work four 10-hour days each week, and have a three-week rotating schedule. Once the three weeks are up, employees get five days off in a row.
Travis Sheetz, president and CEO of Sheetz, said in the announcement that Findlay is “in the heart” of the company’s new growth area and “will play a big role” moving forward.
Findlay is about 100 miles south of Romulus, Michigan, where Sheetz is building its first location in that state.
“We’re excited to bring new opportunities to the area, as we continue to expand throughout the state of Ohio and into Michigan in 2025,” he said.
Sheetz collaborated with Findlay’s local government, as well as Findlay∙Hancock County Economic Development, the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio on the new Findlay distribution center.
“We are happy to have played a role in attracting this project and look forward to seeing the positive impact that Sheetz will have,” said Dan Sheaffer, executive director of Findlay∙Hancock County Economic Development, in the announcement. “The facility will bring more well-paying, quality jobs to the area by a family-owned company that is truly committed to community success.”
Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz operates over 685 convenience stores across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.
