Casey’s General Stores

With more than 1,800 corporate stores across 14 states in the Midwest, publicly traded Casey's General Stores is an Iowa-based convenience-store force built on the premise that small towns are a good place to do business.

Quarterly and annual same-store sales comparison figures bear this out, with steady increases in sales, especially in prepared foods. Casey’s grew store units by about 70 in the 2014 fiscal year, which ended June 30. About half are new store construction and half acquisition.

The chain has integrated the 24-store Stop-N-Go chain in Minnesota and North Dakota that it acquired in February 2014, rebranding and renovating most of them.

In announcing year-end results in July 2014, the chain reported that it has 29 new stores and 24 replacement stores under construction; in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, it had opened seven new stores and acquired 25. Same-store sales in the quarter were up 7.7%.

The company is building its second distribution center in Terre Haute, Ind., set to open in fall 2015. The facility will be 275,000 square feet and take over approximately 40% of current routes. Casey’s is also expanding its existing distribution center and may consider a third.