Sheetz to enter Michigan

[arizonaguy]

Like Kum & Go's recent announcement, they seem to be smelling blood in the water with the 7-11 / Speedway merger.

https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/20 ... -michigan/

[mburb1981]

I wonder what motivated first Kum & Go, then Royal Farms, and now Sheetz to expand into the Detroit market all at once. All the Detroit area has for c-store chains are Speedway, 7-Eleven, and Circle K, so this will be interesting to see.

Yes, Royal Farms is opening a store in the Detroit area as well - their first will be in front of a new warehouse in Romulus:
https://www.cstoredive.com/news/royal-f ... as/631852/

And as a stepping stone to get into Michigan, Sheetz is also planning on opening stores in Toledo, Ohio:
https://www.13abc.com/2022/11/29/sheetz ... roit-2025/

[buckguy]

Not surprising about Sheetz--they have been moving westward through Ohio, opening new stores in the Cleveland and Columbus areas, including outer areas like Delaware and Elyria, during the past few years.

Royal Farms might see Detroit as having similarities to Baltimore. They have rather few stores in DC area, just next door,

[BatteryMill]

I wonder what motivated first Kum & Go, then Royal Farms, and now Sheetz to expand into the Detroit market all at once. All the Detroit area has for c-store chains are Speedway, 7-Eleven, and Circle K, so this will be interesting to see.

Yes, Royal Farms is opening a store in the Detroit area as well - their first will be in front of a new warehouse in Romulus:
https://www.cstoredive.com/news/royal-f ... as/631852/

And as a stepping stone to get into Michigan, Sheetz is also planning on opening stores in Toledo, Ohio:
https://www.13abc.com/2022/11/29/sheetz ... roit-2025/

Very likely because of the merger between 7-Eleven and Speedway. I hope everyone has their distribution centers in check. Then again these gas station chains move fast in terms of expansion! You could never count them out of one metro area or the other, unlike grocery.

[BatteryMill]

Not surprising about Sheetz--they have been moving westward through Ohio, opening new stores in the Cleveland and Columbus areas, including outer areas like Delaware and Elyria, during the past few years.

Royal Farms might see Detroit as having similarities to Baltimore. They have rather few stores in DC area, just next door,

Strange that Royal Farms hasn't expanded much in Washington, then again it is a strong Wawa/Sheetz market. Not to mention the inner suburbs struggle with space, hence why these newer chains generally have not moved in.

[storewanderer]

Very likely because of the merger between 7-Eleven and Speedway. I hope everyone has their distribution centers in check. Then again these gas station chains move fast in terms of expansion! You could never count them out of one metro area or the other, unlike grocery.

And Quik Trip is going into Chicago which is another strong and very long term Speedway market... clearly the industry is seeing blood with how 7-Eleven is running Speedway (into the ground).

I think Royal Farms and Sheetz will do well with their expansion into Detroit. I am not so sure about Kum & Go.