Sheetz unveils Triad distribution center

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A Sheetz gas station and convenience store in Durham. Sheetz has unveiled its 250,000-square-foot distribution and kitchen facility in Burlington.

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Katie Arcieri

Reporter- Triad Business Journal

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Altoona, Pa.-based gas station and convenience store chain Sheetz has unveiled its 250,000-square-foot distribution and kitchen facility in Burlington, with plans to employ about 250 workers by 2018.

The facility at 1737 Whites Kennel Road completed by Greensboro-based Samet Corp. is ahead of schedule on hiring, with expectations of having 230 workers by the end of February, Sheetz officials said Wednesday. Ray Ryan, executive vice president of distribution services for Sheetz, said that the facility has about 100 employees now and that the building represents a $50 million investment.

Sheetz CEO Joe Sheetz said at the ribbon-cutting that Sheetz selected Burlington for its facility because of the area's highway network and labor force.

"It reminded us so much of the great labor force we enjoy in central Pennsylvania," he said.

That labor force is the combination of "some great local talent" in North Carolina and some Sheetz veterans that moved to the Tar Heel state, he said.

"We decided to come here in 2012, we broke ground in the summer of 2013, here we are today toward the end of 2014," Sheetz said. "As we continue to focus on the food and beverage part of our business, which is really what drives most of our business, we just needed a location a little farther south to help serve all of our Southern friends a little more efficiently."

Katie Arcieri covers manufacturing, transportation/logistics, aviation, textiles, tobacco and furniture. Contact her at 336-370-2913.