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Sheetz–Wawa rivalry

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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.

Origins

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Photograph of a Sheetz gas station
Photograph of a Wawa storefront
Sheetz and Wawa stores

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] Wawa stores have opened in Central Pennsylvania and have broken ground in Ohio.[11] There are plans to build both a Wawa and a Sheetz at the same intersection in Phoenixville in southeastern Pennsylvania.[12]

As a cultural signifier

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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.[13] The Spectator described Sheetz as having a "cultural hegemony" in central Pennsylvania,[14] and The New York Times described its fans as having sworn a "fealty" to the store.[15] Likewise, Wawa fans – including Johnny Knoxville[16] – have gotten tattoos of the store logo,[17] demonstrating what Philadelphia magazine called a "cult-like customer devotion".[18]

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,[19] and a year later engaged in a debate on the topic.[7][20] 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,[21][22] while the campaign ran ads in Philadelphia with puns on the name "Wawa".[23]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ sgleiter@pennlive.com, Sue Gleiter | (September 28, 2023). "Wawa is expanding west, here's where it's headed". pennlive. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Wawa and Sheetz looking to build at the same busy Phoenixville intersection, neighbors push back". PHL17.com. June 26, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Don Steinberg (July 27, 2011). "It's a Wawa world". Philadelphia. ISSN 0031-7233. Wikidata Q130710324. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
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