Casey’s to add 350 stores

Expansion plays a key role in Casey’s General Stores’ new three-year strategic plan. 

The nation’s third largest convenience store retailer unveiled plans to drive store growth, accelerate its food business and enhance operations. The strategy leverages Casey’s resilient business model, expanding footprint, guest-centered convenience and restaurant-quality food as a road map to further differentiate Casey’s from its competitors, the company said.

The new strategy is focused on five key initiatives: 

•Grow Store Count:  With more then 2,500 stores in 16 states, Casey’s said will continue to grow its footprint “to have the right stores in the right locations.” Through organic growth and acquisitions, the company is targeting the addition of 350 stores by the end of fiscal year 2026. (Casey’s, whose fourth quarter ended April 30, is currently in fiscal 2024.)

•Accelerate the Food Business: Through an “insights-driven innovation process,” Casey’s will elevate convenient food aligned to customers needs, providing menu options that are available only at Casey’s. 

 “Prepared food is a core capability for Casey’s, and as the fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S., our fresh, handmade pizza is our crown jewel,” said Casey’s chief merchandising officer Tom Brennan. “We’re focused on accelerating our food business through increased whole pie sales, unique, limited-time menu items, exclusive brand partnerships and extensions of our fan favorites, like our new thin crust pizza.” 

In addition to prepared food, Casey’s will expand its private label offerings.

•Enhance Operational Efficiency:  Across the organization, Casey’s new strategic plan will enable operational improvements that drive efficiency and decrease costs through data-driven decision-making. Also, Casey’s is implementing new digital store tools for employees and guests to improve speed and lower operating costs. 

•Community-first Culture:  During the next three years, Casey’s will continue to build a culture that drives performance and exceeds guests’ expectations, putting service first and taking pride in caring for their guests, their communities and Casey’s team members. 

Since 2020, Casey’s, with the help of its supplier partners and customers, has enabled nearly $15 million in donations back into its communities. 

•Financial Strength: With its resilient business model and proven track record of driving growth and delivering results, Casey’s said it is well positioned to perform through the economic cycle. The company’s strategic plan is a continuation of its accelerated growth, with the goal of growing EBITDA at an 8% to 10% compound annual growth rate.

“Casey’s has delivered exceptional performance over the last three years, growing our inside same-store sales by 6.5% this past fiscal year, and expanding our footprint by over 350 stores since 2020,” said Casey’s president and CEO Darren Rebelez. “Our new strategic plan demonstrates that Casey’s is truly a category of one.

Casey’s has delivered exceptional performance over the last three years, growing our inside same-store sales by 6.5% this past fiscal year, and expanding our footprint by over 350 stores since 2020,” said Casey’s president and CEO Darren Rebelez.