A friendly wager between two convenience-store chains, Sheetz and QuikTrip, has resulted in both companies donating $20,000 to good causes.
Sheetz and QuikTrip each have partnerships with a Major League Baseball team, which includes displaying their logo on their respective team’s uniforms. Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz partners with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip partners with the Kansas City Royals. The two teams played each other in a series Sept. 13-15 in Pittsburgh.
The bet started with a post from QuikTrip on X on Sept. 12: “Just realized this weekend is the inaugural C-Store Series. Should we make a bet with @Sheetz?”
Sheetz replied that it is always down for a challenge, and QuikTrip proposed the series loser send $20,000 to the winner’s choice of non-profit organization.
The Kansas City Royals emerged victorious, winning two out of three games, and Sheetz announced on Tuesday it would donate $20,000 to the Royals Literacy League. QuikTrip said it would also donate $20,000 to the Special Olympics Pennsylvania as well.
“Even though the Pirates lost this series, we’re honored to support such a meaningful cause on behalf of QuikTrip,” said Travis Sheetz, president and CEO at Sheetz. “The Royals Literacy League is making a lasting impact on young students, and we’re proud to contribute to their efforts. We are also grateful for the generous contribution from QuikTrip to Special Olympics Pennsylvania. We have been a major partner of Special Olympics for more than 30 years—helping to change lives and give people of all abilities the chance to compete.”
- Sheetz is No. 13 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count. QuikTrip is No. 9.
The Royals Literacy League, an initiative of The Kansas City Royals and the Royals Foundation, is dedicated to inspiring a love for reading and promoting literacy among elementary-aged students in Kansas City public schools.
“QuikTrip is proud of the Royals for their series win over the Pirates and grateful to our friends at Sheetz for stepping up to the plate to join us in supporting the Royals Literacy League,” said QuikTrip Corporate Communications Manager Aisha Jefferson. “While we are happy to accept friendly bragging rights, QuikTrip will also donate $20,000 to Special Olympics Pennsylvania in recognition of the long history that both companies have of supporting their communities.”
Since its founding in 1958, QuikTrip has invested 5% of its annual net profits into charitable organizations in the communities it serves. QuikTrip is a $11 billion company with more than 1,000 stores in 18 states.
Sheetz operates more than 750 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina. In August, Major League Baseball Players Inc. (MLBPI) sued the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and the Sheetz convenience-store chain for damages and relief over what it calls “misappropriation for commercial purposes of the names, images and likenesses” of players related to a multi-year partnership for the retailer to display its logo on Pirates players’ home and away jersey sleeves, according to court documents.
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