Casey's

Corporate brand

Casey's is an American convenience-store chain known for small-town locations, fuel, prepared food, and especially pizza.

Last updated November 3, 2026

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Overview

Casey's, legally Casey's General Stores, Inc., is a convenience-store retailer headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. The company operates primarily in the Midwestern and Southern United States and has built its identity around serving smaller communities with a combination of gasoline, convenience merchandise, prepared food, and basic local retail services. Although its stores are fuel-oriented, Casey's is particularly associated with its in-store food program, including made-to-order pizza, breakfast pizza, taco pizza, doughnuts, sandwiches, and other prepared items. Its pizza business has become large enough for Casey's to be described as one of the leading pizza chains in the United States. The business began in 1959 when Donald Lamberti leased a service station in Des Moines from his father. After operating and remodeling the station into a convenience store, Lamberti was encouraged by his friend and gasoline supplier Kurvin C. Fish to acquire the Square Deal Oil Company station in Boone, Iowa. Lamberti renamed that location Casey's, using a name associated with Fish, and converted it into a convenience store. The Boone store's performance led to further experimentation in Creston and Waukee. The Waukee location was especially successful, reinforcing a strategy of opening stores in communities that were often too small to attract larger urban-oriented convenience operators. Casey's expanded steadily through the 1970s and 1980s. It opened a warehouse by the late 1970s, established its first distribution center in Urbandale in 1982, and became publicly traded in 1983. During this period, the company broadened its food offering, adding doughnuts and pizza and briefly testing fried chicken. A larger distribution and administrative base was established in Ankeny in 1990. The chain opened its 1,000th store in Altoona, Iowa, in 1996, a milestone that coincided with annual sales exceeding one billion dollars. Lamberti relinquished the chief executive role in 1998, became chairman, and retired from the company in 2002. From the 2000s onward, Casey's combined organic store development with acquisitions of regional convenience chains and fuel locations. Purchases such as Gas 'N Shop, HandiMart, Bucky's, Pilot Food Mart locations, Minit Mart, Certified Oil, and CEFCO expanded its geographic footprint and added stores with different formats. Some acquired locations were converted to the standard Casey's format, while smaller sites without suitable kitchens were placed under the goodstop by Casey's banner. The company has remained independent despite takeover approaches. In 2010, Alimentation Couche-Tard pursued Casey's through a substantial offer and proxy contest, while 7-Eleven separately proposed a transaction. Casey's shareholders retained the incumbent board, and discussions with 7-Eleven ended without a merger. The episode highlighted Casey's strategic value as a large, American-owned convenience operator with a dense rural and small-town network. Casey's also invested in digital capabilities, including a fleet card, mobile application, and customer loyalty program. In 2020 it introduced a major visual rebrand, adopting a new logo and removing “General Stores” from customer-facing signage while retaining the legal corporate name until 2022. The brand continues to combine fuel retailing with food-led convenience, using its pizza reputation and broad store network as key differentiators. Its later acquisitions expanded the chain beyond its original Iowa and Midwestern base into additional Southern states, including Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Casey's General Store is an American chain of convenience stores and gas stations primarily in the Midwest. Known for its made-to-order pizza, it also offers fuel, groceries, and other prepared foods. Founded in Boone, Iowa in 1968, the company is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. Casey's General Stores is an American chain of convenience stores and gas stations, primarily in the Midwest and South. It offers groceries, beverages, tobacco, and fuel, and is known for its made-to-order pizza.

History

Casey's originated in Iowa in 1959, when Donald Lamberti leased a Des Moines service station from his father. Lamberti remodeled the station into a convenience store and later followed the advice of his friend and fuel supplier Kurvin C. Fish by acquiring the Square Deal Oil Company station in Boone. He renamed the business Casey's and converted it into a convenience store. Further stores in Creston and Waukee demonstrated that the format could work in very small communities. This became a defining strategic principle: Casey's focused on towns that larger convenience chains often overlooked. By the late 1970s, the company had grown to 118 stores and had established warehouse operations. It opened its first distribution center in Urbandale, Iowa, in 1982 and became publicly traded in October 1983 through an initial public offering. During the same period, Casey's developed prepared food as an important part of its offer, adding doughnuts and pizza and briefly testing fried chicken. The move toward foodservice eventually made pizza central to the brand's identity. Casey's relocated to its current Ankeny facility in 1990. In 1996, the company opened its 1,000th store in Altoona, Iowa, and surpassed one billion dollars in annual sales. Lamberti left the CEO position in 1998, remained chairman for a period, and retired in 2002. The company expanded during the 2000s through acquisitions, including Gas 'N Shop in 2006 and the 33-store HandiMart chain later that year. In 2010, Casey's became the target of competing strategic interest. Alimentation Couche-Tard offered approximately $1.9 billion and pursued a proxy contest, while 7-Eleven later proposed a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion. Casey's resisted the Couche-Tard campaign, retained its board, and ultimately did not merge with 7-Eleven. Infrastructure and geographic growth continued in the 2010s. Casey's opened a second distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 2016 and announced plans to add stores in western Ohio. The company also faced pressure from outside investors to modernize customer-facing technology. Its resulting initiatives included a fleet card, mobile application, and loyalty program, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2020. In 2020, Casey's launched a major rebrand, adopting a new logo and dropping “General Stores” from retail signage. It also agreed to acquire Buchanan Energy and its 94 Bucky's stores. In 2021, it opened a distribution center in Joplin, Missouri, completed the Bucky's transaction, and introduced goodstop by Casey's for smaller locations without full kitchens. It also acquired Pilot Food Mart locations in East Tennessee. The acquisition-led expansion accelerated in the 2020s. Casey's acquired 63 Minit Mart and Certified Oil locations in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee in 2023, entered Texas through a 22-store purchase later that year, and agreed in 2024 to acquire Fikes Wholesale and nearly 200 CEFCO stores. That transaction broadened its presence in Texas and added Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi to its footprint. Casey's also acquired four Oakcrest Market stores in Arkansas and secured naming rights for Wells Fargo Arena, which was scheduled to become Casey's Center in 2025. The company remains an active convenience retailer whose brand rests on a combination of fuel, small-town accessibility, and prepared food, especially pizza.

2025
Casey's Center naming begins
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Wells Fargo Arena was scheduled to adopt the Casey's Center name under Casey's naming-rights agreement.
2024
CEFCO acquisition announced
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's agreed to acquire Fikes Wholesale and its CEFCO chain, adding nearly 200 stores and entering several Southern states.
2023
Expansion into Texas
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's expanded into Texas through the purchase of 22 convenience stores.
2021
Bucky's acquisition and goodstop launch
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's completed the Bucky's transaction, opened its Joplin distribution center, and began using the goodstop by Casey's banner.
2020
Brand reorganization
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
The company introduced a new identity and began removing “General Stores” from customer-facing branding.
2016
Second distribution center
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's opened a distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana.
2010
Independence preserved after takeover approaches
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's retained its board after Couche-Tard's proxy campaign and did not proceed with a proposed 7-Eleven merger.
2006
Regional-chain acquisitions
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's acquired Gas 'N Shop and agreed to purchase the 33-store HandiMart chain.
1996
1,000th store and billion-dollar sales milestone
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's opened its 1,000th store in Altoona, Iowa, and exceeded one billion dollars in annual sales.
1990
Move to Ankeny headquarters
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
The company moved to its current Ankeny, Iowa, facility.
1983
Public listing
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's became publicly traded through an initial offering of 700,000 shares.
1982
First distribution center opens
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Casey's opened its first distribution center in Urbandale, Iowa.
1977
Original family-operated store joins the chain
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
The original store operated by Lamberti's parents became part of Casey's network.
1968
Square Deal Oil Company acquisition
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Lamberti acquired a Boone, Iowa, station, renamed it Casey's, and converted it into a convenience store.
1959
First convenience-store operation
[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Donald Lamberti began operating a remodeled service station in Des Moines, establishing the business that became Casey's.

Products and positioning

A community-oriented American convenience retailer combining fuel, everyday merchandise, and distinctive prepared food, with particular emphasis on pizza and service to small and rural markets.

Convenience retail · 1959
Casey's convenience stores
The core Casey's format combines gasoline sales with convenience merchandise and prepared food. Stores generally serve everyday local needs, including beverages, snacks, groceries, tobacco products, automotive items, and food prepared on site. The format was developed for smaller communities and remains central to the company's identity.
Prepared food · 1983
Casey's breakfast pizza
Pizza is Casey's signature prepared-food offering and one of its most recognizable brand assets. The menu includes standard pizza varieties as well as distinctive offerings such as breakfast pizza and taco pizza. Pizza is prepared and sold through the store network, making Casey's an unusual example of a convenience retailer with a substantial pizza business. Breakfast pizza is a prominent Casey's food item that extends the chain's pizza proposition into the morning daypart. It supports the brand's positioning as a prepared-food destination rather than only a fuel and packaged-goods retailer.
Convenience retail sub-brand · 2021
goodstop by Casey's
goodstop by Casey's is a smaller-footprint banner introduced for acquired or other locations that are not suitable for a full Casey's store with an in-house kitchen. It allows the company to retain and operate locations while using a format adapted to their physical capabilities.
Loyalty and digital commerce · 2018
Casey's digital services
Casey's digital initiatives include a mobile application, loyalty program, and fleet card. These services were developed to modernize customer engagement, support repeat visits, and improve the relationship between the retailer and fuel or fleet customers.

Controversies

2021
Tyson Foods recalls approximately 8.5 million pounds of chicken products
Tyson Foods announced a voluntary recall of approximately 8.5 million pounds of frozen and cooked chicken products that may have been contaminated with listeria. The affected products were distributed in the United States and Puerto Rico. In its investigation, the FSIS reported three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, and stated that evidence linked listeria to Tyson products.
Source
2021
Lawsuit filed over Casey's driver mileage payments
A delivery driver filed a lawsuit against Casey's General Store alleging that its flat-rate delivery payments failed to adequately reimburse drivers for vehicle expenses and reduced their net pay below the federal minimum wage. The filing concerns the company's flat-rate delivery payment practice and its effect on drivers' net pay after vehicle expenses. These are allegations in the lawsuit.
Source

2020Casey's visual rebrand
United States
Casey's introduced a new logo and simplified its customer-facing name by removing “General Stores” from signage. The retail brand became Casey's, while the legal corporate name remained Casey's General Stores, Inc. for a period.
Outcome. The retail brand became Casey's, while the legal corporate name remained Casey's General Stores, Inc. for a period.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Acquire Fikes Wholesale and CEFCOM&A
Background
Casey's pursued a large acquisition to extend its convenience-store network into additional Southern markets.
Action taken
Casey's agreed to purchase Fikes Wholesale, including the CEFCO chain, in an all-cash transaction.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in November 2024 and added nearly 200 stores, expanding Casey's further in Texas and into Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.
Transaction value. $1.145 billion (Announced July 2024; closed November 2024)
Source
2024
Acquire Wells Fargo Arena naming rightsOther
Background
Casey's pursued a high-profile naming-rights arrangement connected to an Iowa venue in its home state.
Action taken
The company purchased naming rights to Wells Fargo Arena under a ten-year agreement.
Aftermath
The venue was scheduled to be renamed Casey's Center on July 1, 2025.
Naming-rights cost. $18 million (Ten-year agreement announced October 2024)
Source
2021
Create a smaller acquired-store formatStrategy
Background
Some acquired locations lacked the space or equipment required for a full-service Casey's kitchen.
Action taken
Casey's introduced the goodstop by Casey's banner for smaller-footprint stores without kitchens.
Aftermath
The format enabled Casey's to operate a wider range of acquired locations without converting every site to the standard store model.
Source
2020
Simplify the retail brandStrategy
Background
Casey's sought to modernize its customer-facing identity while preserving recognition built around the Casey's name.
Action taken
The company introduced a new logo and removed “General Stores” from retail signage.
Aftermath
Casey's became the principal public-facing brand, while the corporate legal name continued temporarily.
Source
2010
Reject Couche-Tard acquisition campaignM&A
Background
Alimentation Couche-Tard proposed acquiring or gaining control of Casey's and launched a proxy campaign after Casey's rejected the approach.
Action taken
Casey's opposed the takeover effort and defended its existing board slate.
Aftermath
Casey's shareholders retained the incumbent board in September 2010, and the company remained independent.
Proposed acquisition value. (2010)
- 7-Eleven — 7-Eleven separately offered approximately $2 billion for Casey's, but discussions ended without a merger.
Source

Recent events

2024
Casey's agrees to acquire Fikes Wholesale and CEFCO[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Casey's announced an all-cash acquisition of Fikes Wholesale, including nearly 200 CEFCO convenience stores, expanding its presence in Texas and into Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.
2024
Casey's purchases Oakcrest Market stores[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Casey's acquired four stores from Oakcrest Market, expanding its presence around Fort Smith, Arkansas.
2024
Wells Fargo Arena to become Casey's Center[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Campaign · Other
Casey's purchased naming rights to Wells Fargo Arena under a ten-year agreement; the venue was scheduled to adopt the Casey's Center name in July 2025.
2023
Casey's expands through Minit Mart and Certified Oil acquisition[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Casey's agreed to acquire 63 locations in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, with plans to convert them to the Casey's format.
2023
Casey's enters Texas through convenience-store acquisition[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company purchased 22 convenience stores, primarily in North Texas.
2021
Casey's completes Bucky's acquisition and divests six stores[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A · Regulation
The Bucky's transaction closed, with six stores divested to address regulatory concerns.
2021
Casey's introduces goodstop by Casey's[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The company began using the goodstop by Casey's banner for smaller acquired locations that did not have full Casey's kitchens.
2021
Casey's acquires Pilot Food Mart locations[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Casey's purchased 38 Pilot Food Mart locations and two truck-stop locations in the Knoxville-area market.
2020
Casey's announces visual rebrand[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
Other
The company introduced a new logo and removed “General Stores” from customer-facing signage, while the legal corporate name continued temporarily.
2020
Casey's agrees to acquire Bucky's Convenience Stores[1]Casey'sen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Casey's announced a deal to acquire Omaha-based Bucky's, adding 94 convenience stores.

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