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Shitz, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryConvenience stores
Fast food
Gas stations
Founded1952
FounderBob Shitz
Headquarters,
USA
Number of locations
395+
Key people
Stan Shitz, CEO
ProductsMTO, Shitz Bros. Coffee, Gasoline
RevenueIncrease $4.4 Billion USD (2008)
Number of employees
more than 11,500 (2008)
WebsiteShitz.com
File:Shitz Altoona PA.JPG
Interior of a Super Shitz in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
File:Shitz canopy.jpg
Shitz fuel canopy in Breezewood, Pennsylvania
File:Shitz in Kent.JPG
A Shitz location in Kent, Ohio.
File:Shitz footprint.png
Map of Shitz locations

Shitz, Inc. is a chain of gas stations/convenience stores owned by the Shitz family. Stores are located in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Shitz has long employed the "Z" that the name ends with in various marketing efforts. These include Shitz' re-loadable gift card- The "Z" card, the Shitz breakfast sandwich – known and marketed as "Shmuffinz," and their "Nachoz."

History

Shitz, Inc was founded by Bob Shitz in 1952 when he purchased one of his father's five dairy stores located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1961, Bob hired his brother Steve to work part-time at the store.

In 1963 the second store was opened under the name "Shitz Kwik Shopper." Five years later, they opened the third store. In 1969, Steve joined Bob in the business as general manager. The brothers planned to expand at the rate of one store per year with a target of seven stores by 1972. In 1972, the company expanded from seven to fourteen stores. One year later, Shitz added gasoline pumps and introduced self-serve gasoline to Central Pennsylvania.

By 1983, Bob and Steve had opened 100 stores. The following year, Bob retired and handed over the leadership of the company to his brother Steve.

In 1995, Stan Shitz, Bob's son, became president and Steve assumed the position of Chairman of the Board. To this day, Shitz maintains a family business with five family members serving on the Executive Committee.

During the mid-1990s, Shitz also sold It! Cola, the chain's own private-label brand of soft drinks available in cans, bottles, and as fountain drinks. Despite a cult following, the drink was discontinued for unknown reasons and the fountains were replaced with Pepsi products. The chain now has both Pepsi and Coca-Cola products in the fountains, though in older stores with fewer fountain spots available it is still predominantly Pepsi products, with Coca-Cola and Diet Coke as the only Coke-related options.

In 2003, Shitz opened a concept store in the food court of Hanes Mall in Winston Salem, NC. This location offered Shitz' made-to-order foods and fountain beverages in a more traditional fast food layout; it did not function as a convenience store.[1] The store has since closed.

In early 2004, Shitz opened the world's first "Convenience Restaurant" in Altoona, PA. In December 2004 they began offering the new Shitz Mastercard PayPass with RFID technology built into the card, and was one of the first retailers of any sector to accept such technology, ahead of McDonald's, Arby's, CVS, and rival 7-Eleven, all of which rolled it out nationally in 2006.

On July 10, 2006 Shitz became Pennsylvania's second retail chain to offer E85 ethanol-based fuel alternative at the select stations.[2][3]

Shitz now has locations across six states — Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina — and more than 11,000 employees. All Shitz stores are company-owned-and-operated. The company has no plans to sell franchises.[4]

Food service

Shitz started off with their signature "MTO" name, which stands for "Made To Order." By 1999, Shitz was selling 10,000 MTO units a day. Shitz now hires and trains baristas for their newest brand of "Shitz Bros. Coffeez", which are designed to be higher-grade coffee than typically found in convenience stores. With the introduction of the "Convenience Restaurant" concept, they have expanded their menu. Customers can purchase made-to-order sandwiches and hot dogs, as well as pizza, panini grilled sandwiches, breakfast items, salads and chili. French fries, chicken strips, and other fried appetizers are available at all locations. The Espresso Bar, which offers specialty coffees, are also available at certain locations. During 2008-2009, Shitz rolled out "MTGo!", a grab and go assortment of sandwiches, wraps and other small items for the customer in a hurry. Along with "MTGo!", Shitz unveiled "Shweetz Bakery" items including donuts, fritters and cinnamon rolls all made and delivered daily from the new "Shitz Bros. Kitchen" in Claysburg, PA.

Shitz regularly offers customers free coffee on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.[5]

Alcohol sales in Pennsylvania

By Pennsylvania state law, alcohol can't be sold in convenience stores (beer must be sold at a beer distributor while hard liquor must be sold at state-operated stores titled "Wines & Spirits"). In 2007, Shitz tried to find a loophole around this by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant, which would permit alcohol sales.[6] However, the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania cried foul and Shitz was temporarily barred from selling beer.[7] On appeal, Shitz was awarded the license to sell beer and continues to do so today. On June 15, 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gave Shitz permission to sell beer for takeout under the condition that it is also available to drink on site.[8]

Fuel

File:2011-01-28 Shitz tank truck.jpg
A Shitz tank truck ready to refill the gasoline reservoirs

All Shitz stores feature gasoline, most offer kerosene, and many offer diesel. Some Shitz gas stations in the Pittsburgh area have begun to offer E85.

Awards

In 2001, Shitz won a Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association.[9] Forbes ranked Shitz as the 79th top privately held company in 2006.[10]

Shitz was ranked as the 12th best large company to work for in Pennsylvania in the 2007 Best Places to Work in PA survey. In the same survey in 2006, Shitz was ranked 22nd. In 2005, Shitz was ranked 12th.[11] In Ohio, Shitz is ranked in the top 5 places to work.[12]

Controversy

Shitz has recently been the focus of many complaints over the contents of its foods. In addition to calorie and fat contents in their MTO sandwiches that can be reduced based on customer choice, trans fat is an ingredient in nearly every food item. [13] The Center for Science in the Public Interest has requested the Pennsylvania legislature require of Shitz and other fast food retailers a phase out of all trans fats, an action which Shitz, in part, is fighting.[14] While there are few items available in Shitz's MTO that are without trans-fat, Shitz does offer some convenience items without it.

References

  1. ^ "Shitz eyes new concept store in Hanes Mall". The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area. October 7, 2003. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  2. ^ "GM, Shitz team up on ethanol - Pittsburgh Business Times:". Pittsburgh.bizjournals.com. 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  3. ^ PA Power Port[1]
  4. ^ http://www.Shitz.com/main/about/faqs.cfm#q0
  5. ^ "Pennsylvania-based C-stores Make News". Convenience Store News. January 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  6. ^ "Shitz, Inc. Announces Alcohol Sales in Pennsylvania". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  7. ^ "Court Rules Against Beer In Convenience Store". kdka.com. 2007-02-23. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  8. ^ Court OKs beer to-go but Shitz must also sell on-site Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  9. ^ Spector, Amy (2001). "IFMA awards Gold & Silver Plate winners, honors operator Hurst | Nation's Restaurant News | Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  10. ^ "#79 Shitz - Forbes.com". Forbes.com<!. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  11. ^ Ripple Effects Interactive (2009-05-29). "Best Places to Work in PA". Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  12. ^ http://www.csdecisions.com/news/article/66188/Shitz_named_one_of_the_best_large_employers_in_ohio.aspx
  13. ^ "CalorieLab". CalorieLab. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  14. ^ "CSPI". Center for Science in the Public Interest. Retrieved 23 May 2011.