Giant Creates Fuel War
SCOTT TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- When the new Giant supermarket opened in Scott Township, Pa. Wednesday morning, it not only drew droves of curious customers, it also created a price war at the pumps.
The supermarket fuel island debuted with a price of $1.19 per gallon for regular gasoline, 30 cents lower than the price of $1.49 per gallon that had been the norm in the area for weeks.
Two stores, Sheetz and Sunoco A-Plus, both located on nearby Route 11 in Scott Township, matched the price. Prices at other area gasoline outlets remained at $1.49 for regular, according to the Press (Pa.) Enterprise.
Motorists lined up at the pumps to take advantage of Giant's prices, which include plus gasoline for $1.26 a gallon and premium for $1.33 a gallon. The price is promotional and won't last, said Tom Woodring, Giant's store manager. He would say only the price will be determined "day to day" the report said.
But Giant will remain in the Route 11 pricing game that Sheetz and Sunoco A-Plus have been involved in since 1995 when the Sheetz store opened. When Sheetz debuted in the area, the price of regular gasoline dropped to 89 cents a gallon for a time. "We'll be competitive," Woodring said.
The low price was a hot topic of conversation around the area, including at Giant and Sheetz. The price for regular last hit $1.19 a gallon back in October 2001.
Prices at a competing A-Plus Sunoco listed regular gasoline for $1.49 per gallon Wednesday afternoon. That price also held for a Shell station on Route 11 in Bloomsburg, Pa., not far from Giant, the Uni-Mart on Route 11 in South Centre Township, Pa., and the Short Stop Mart on Route 487 in Lightstreet, Pa.
The supermarket fuel island debuted with a price of $1.19 per gallon for regular gasoline, 30 cents lower than the price of $1.49 per gallon that had been the norm in the area for weeks.
Two stores, Sheetz and Sunoco A-Plus, both located on nearby Route 11 in Scott Township, matched the price. Prices at other area gasoline outlets remained at $1.49 for regular, according to the Press (Pa.) Enterprise.
Motorists lined up at the pumps to take advantage of Giant's prices, which include plus gasoline for $1.26 a gallon and premium for $1.33 a gallon. The price is promotional and won't last, said Tom Woodring, Giant's store manager. He would say only the price will be determined "day to day" the report said.
But Giant will remain in the Route 11 pricing game that Sheetz and Sunoco A-Plus have been involved in since 1995 when the Sheetz store opened. When Sheetz debuted in the area, the price of regular gasoline dropped to 89 cents a gallon for a time. "We'll be competitive," Woodring said.
The low price was a hot topic of conversation around the area, including at Giant and Sheetz. The price for regular last hit $1.19 a gallon back in October 2001.
Prices at a competing A-Plus Sunoco listed regular gasoline for $1.49 per gallon Wednesday afternoon. That price also held for a Shell station on Route 11 in Bloomsburg, Pa., not far from Giant, the Uni-Mart on Route 11 in South Centre Township, Pa., and the Short Stop Mart on Route 487 in Lightstreet, Pa.