CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Responding to oven-hot public pressure, Sheetz selected Home Industry Bakery of Clarksburg as the pepperoni roll provider for its 49 West Virginia locations.
Sheetz incurred severe backlash upon announcing in May that the pepperoni rolls sold in about one-third of its 500 convenience stores would come from a vendor outside the state where they were invented. Company representatives acknowledged Monday the social media frenzy resulting from that decision led them to reconsider.
“We are extremely thankful to have heard from our customers regarding pepperoni rolls sold at our stores in West Virginia,” read a Sheetz release. “We are even more excited to be able to act upon that feedback and deliver a partnership to provide West Virginia baked pepperoni rolls to all of our West Virginia stores.”
Sheetz also considered Abruzzino Bakery, as well as another of the previous suppliers, Rogers and Mazza.
“The company went through a thorough evaluation of West Virginia vendors and selected the best partner to supply all 49 stores in the state,” Sheetz announced.
Denny Mazza called the announcement a disappointment for his company—which he said stands to lose $500,000 annually—but he still considers it a win for West Virginia.
“Congratulations to our competitor that won the Sheetz stores. It was Rogers and Mazza that brought all this up to the citizens of West Virginia,” Mazza said. “At least Sheetz will keep a West Virginia bakery in stores.”
The pepperoni roll, which traces back to the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont in 1927, has been a West Virginia staple for decades, gaining popularity as a pack-and-carry meal for coal miners.