Casey’s to Open 400 Stores in Next Three Years

The announcement follows "the most successful three-year period in the company's history," according to CEO Darren Rebelez.

Casey’s is in the midst of a significant transformation of its store network, kicked off by its industry shifting 2024 acquisition of Fikes Wholesale, which added 198 locations to its footprint. Since 2023, the chain has added more than 500 new stores in addition to joining the S&P 500 — an index that tracks the performance of many of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S.

“Our success over the last three years reinforces what makes Casey’s unique: a differentiated model that brings together restaurant-quality food, best-in-class convenience and fuel at scale,” said Darren Rebelez, president and CEO at Casey’s. “As we enter our next three-year plan, we are focused on expanding our food business, growing our store base and leveraging technology to improve efficiency and execution. We believe these priorities will enable us to continue gaining market share, driving profitable growth, and delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”

Growth Strategy

Looking ahead at the next three years, Casey’s is showing no signs of slowing down. The chain is doubling down on three operational initiatives — accelerating its food and beverage program, expanding and scaling, and enhancing operational efficiency.

On the foodservice front, the company is increasingly investing in its made-to-order program. While historically Casey’s has been famous for its pizza, over the next three years the chain plans to roll out a new chicken wing program across its network. About a third of Casey’s stores have already rolled out the offering, Rebelez said in a media briefing. The chain is also adding fries to the menu to account for customer demand.

“Our food business is at the center of Casey’s three-year growth strategy and continues to be one of our strongest differentiators,” said Tom Brennan, chief merchandising officer at Casey’s. “Prepared foods and nonalcoholic beverages are driving strong inside sales, and we’re continuing to build on the loyalty we’ve earned through our more than 40 years in the pizza business with new offerings like wings and fries. In Des Moines, where wings have been available for more than a year, sales are up 20% year over year, reinforcing the significant opportunity we see as we expand the platform across our nearly 3,000 stores and further establish Casey’s as a food destination.”

Expansion Plans

Notably, Casey’s shared plans to grow its footprint by 400 stores over the next three years. The sites, Rebelez said, will come in the form of both new builds and acquisitions.

The chain’s growth strategy, according to chief operations officer Ena Williams, is “expanding Casey’s Country in a disciplined way.”

“We’ve shown that we can grow through both new stores and acquisitions,” said Williams. “That includes the successful integration of CEFCO, our largest acquisition to date, which strengthened our presence in Texas and expanded Casey’s reach across the South. That flexibility allows us to pursue the best opportunities as market conditions evolve.”

As it continues to grow, Casey’s is also investing in technology and data-driven tools, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). But its strategy is not simply to implement “AI for AI’s sake,” said Rebelez, but rather to use the technology to enhance its already-in-place initiatives and strategies.

“We’re intentional about how we invest in technology, focusing on solutions that improve the experience for our guests while enabling our teams to operate more efficiently,” said Williams. “Whether it’s using AI to help improve forecasting and inventory planning, redesigning kitchens to help team members prepare more food with less friction or enhancing digital tools like our app and Casey’s Rewards, we’re investing in practical innovations that improve efficiency, strengthen guest experience and support long-term growth.”