Sheetz to build massive food service facility in Western Ohio
By Terry Troy
It is headquartered in Pennsylvania and may be considered a mid-Atlantic convenience store and gas station retailer, but Sheetz, Inc. is making a major investment in Western Ohio. The company is building a new $150 million facility in Findlay that will house food preparation and distribution to help the company expand into new markets, including Dayton. The new project is expected to create 750 jobs over the course of five years.
The company is working closely with Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio.
“We are happy to have played a role in attracting this project and look forward to seeing the positive impact that Sheetz will have,” says Dan Sheaffer, executive director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development. “The facility will bring more well-paying, quality jobs to the area by a family-owned company that is truly committed to community success.”
“Sheetz is thankful for the cooperation and support of all the local, county and state leaders who have helped make this project possible,” says Travis Sheetz, president and CEO of Sheetz. “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. Findlay is located in the heart of this new growth area and will play a big role in the future of Sheetz.”
Local government also played an important role in attracting the company.
“The unanimous decision to support this project by City Council sends a strong signal that Findlay is proud of our business community and is willing to make investments to continue to set our community up as a premier place to do business,” says Christina Muryn, mayor of Findlay. “We are thrilled to welcome Sheetz to our community.”
Despite its size, Sheetz is still a family-owned chain, operating 685 stores in six states, including Ohio. It employs more than 25,000 people. Its new food production and distribution facility should aid the retailer in opening new markets in Ohio. Earlier this year, the chain announced plans to open 20 locations in the Dayton area over the next five years, with the first store in Dayton expected to open next year.
“We are thrilled to continue our growth in Ohio and bring the ultimate one-stop-shop to the residents of Dayton,” says Sheetz. “Built on the values my Uncle Bob instilled when he founded Sheetz in 1952, we look forward to being a great employer and neighbor that is actively involved in the Dayton community.”
In addition to the Ohio jobs at the new Findlay food service facility, each new Sheetz location employs approximately 30 individuals. The company was recently ranked 33rd on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, recognition of the company’s investment of over $70 million in store employee wages in 2021 as well as an investment doubling the tuition assistance it offers employees through the company’s College Tuition Reimbursement program.
“Ohio is a great place for a family-owned and -operated business like Sheetz to grow and succeed,” says Governor Mike DeWine. “Sheetz stores have been extremely well received in the Ohio communities where they’ve expanded, and this new, advanced facility will improve efficiencies for the company both here at home and throughout the Midwest while creating good-paying jobs in the Findlay area.”