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It took 47 years for convenience store chain Sheetz to make its first $1 billion in sales, but it surpassed its second billion just four years later.
Altoona-based Sheetz, founded in 1952 with a dairy and restaurant, has branched into six states as it prepares to open its 300th store in the spring.
The company is now run by Stanton Sheetz, president and son of founder Bob Sheetz, and Steve Sheetz, Bob's brother and chairman of the family-owned company. They say the chain has been able to grow by delivering friendly customer service, despite the growth of nontraditional competitors such as megaretailers and big-box pharmacies.
"If you're not supporting the customer, you'd better be supporting someone who is," Steve Sheetz said. Sheetz employs "secret shoppers" and solicits ideas for improvement on its Web site.
Privately held Sheetz generated about $2.4 billion in sales last year and aims to grow by 10 percent annually. To keep its edge and continue on that expansion path, it employs three registered chefs who develop menu items, experiments with new products and marketing techniques and recently opened a $23 million distribution facility.
"The convenience store industry as a whole regards the Sheetz company and the Sheetz family very, very highly," said Claire Pamplin, editor of Convenience Store News, a trade magazine based in New York City. "They are very...