Poll: Sheetz Wins Battle of the Pennsylvania C-stores

JERSEY CITY, N.J – When it comes to their favorite convenience store, Pennsylvania residents have a clear preference for Sheetz. The Altoona, Pa.-based chain won the category in Harper Polling's statewide poll, released Jan. 7.

Sheetz was more popular with poll participants than all of the other c-store chains put together, taking 51 percent of the overall vote. The polling firm noted that Sheetz finished first or second in every region in the state except Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley, and its popularity was strongest in the Pittsburgh/Southwest and Erie/Northwest at 88 percent and 80 percent respectively. Men were more likely than women to choose Sheetz, at 54 percent vs. 49 percent, and Republicans were more likely than Democrats to name it as their favorite, at 59 percent vs. 45 percent.

Following Sheetz in the rankings were:

• Wawa — 26 percent: This chain fared best in the Southeast portion of Pennsylvania, winning first place in Lehigh Valley at 60 percent and Philadelphia at 88 percent.
• Turkey Hill — 13 percent: Along with winning first place in the Scranton/Northwest region with 63 percent, this chain took three second-place finishes.
• 7-Eleven — 7 percent: The Dallas-based chain also won three second-place finished within the state.
• Rutter's — 3 percent: This York, Pa.-based chain suffered a disadvantage by having the smallest footprint in Pennsylvania at 55 stores.

The sample size for the poll was 798 with a plus or minus 3.47 percent margin of error. All respondents voted in either the 2006 or 2010 midterm elections, or registered to vote since 2010 and voted in the 2012 general election, reported Harper Polling.