6 A Matter of Degrees

SHEETZ: MEETING THE NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS ON THE GO

More information about Sheetz can be found at www.sheetz.com.

More information about Thermo King and its V-300 MAX refrigeration unit can be found at www.thermoking.com.

Sheetz, a family-owned convenience store chain, operates 369 locations across six states – Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and North

Carolina – and has been committed to one thing since opening its � rst door in 1952: customer service. Always striving to meet the needs of customers on the go, Sheetz has successfully adapted through the years as life has become faster and busier for its customers.

“The Sheetz family has e� ectively built a business centered on the customer. No matter ones role in this company, customer service is our job #1,” said John Di Vito, director of transportation for Sheetz’ distribution center and the Sheetz Brothers’ Kitchen.

The company has grown from a small dairy/deli in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to one of the fastest growing convenience stores in the world. In reality, Sheetz is more than a convenience store. It is a place for people to go to refuel cars or refresh their bodies, providing what they need to keep moving 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They o� er award-winning made-to-order foods including salads, sandwiches and donuts through its Sheetz Brothers’ Kitchen, espresso bars with made-to-order specialty Co� eez®, quality gasoline, and much more.

With its main distribution center in Claysburg, Pennsylvania, and a Roanoke cross-dock facility, Sheetz is able to maintain its stores’ supplies to ensure customers will � nd what they need at each location. Helping the company deliver its many fresh, refrigerated and frozen goods is Thermo King, a partner for nearly 10 years.

Thermo King has out� tted Sheetz’ entire � eet with the dependable refrigeration equipment which ensures the quality that de� nes Sheetz. According to Di Vito, the � eet includes 60 Great Dane and Utility 3-zone trailers, all with Thermo King’s SB SPECTRUMTM multi-temperature refrigeration units; and 40 Sprinter vans, 13 International CF 500s, 3 Dodge and 4 Ford vehicles – all with Thermo King’s V-300 MAX TC units.

“We wanted to go with smaller distribution vehicles a couple years ago to make serving our congested metropolitan areas easier for drivers,” said Di Vito. “We worked with Thermo King of Pittsburgh, our local dealer, to determine the ideal solution. We found the V-300 MAX unit was perfect as it provided the multi-temperature zones we need and would accommodate both

vans and small trucks. The unit is light-weight and provides the perfect temperature regulation for our needs. We’ve been very happy with the unit’s performance and ease of use.”

The V-300 MAX unit, which is manufactured in Thermo King’s Spain facility, comprises a two-piece split unit designed for fresh, frozen and deep frozen applications. “One compressor is powered by the vehicle’s engine, while the second is powered by an electric motor, making it possible to use electric stand-by to drive the unit,” explained Jack Anna, Thermo King of Pittsburgh sales manager. “This, of course, contributes to the

unit’s environmental friendliness. In addition, the V-300 MAX o� ers a slim pro� le, which provides maximum load space and high air� ow volume for superior temperature control. It was exciting to work with Sheetz to � nd the perfect refrigeration unit for their growing, successful operation.”

Sheetz’ distribution center delivers to all its stores 3 times each week, approximately 7 stores a day, an assortment of dry, refrigerated and frozen products. Drivers unload by hand to maintain quality control and e� ciency. “Our partnership with Thermo King of Pittsburgh has served us well in our aggressive expansion e� orts,” said Di Vito. “Dealership sta� has provided us with the best refrigeration units and service for our operation.”