Casey’s Sales Rise As More Guests Shop Inside Stores  

Casey’s General Stores, which has over 2,240 locations, reported that inside same-store sales were up approximately 13 percent for the fourth quarter of 2021 as “inside guest counts steadily improved,” according to an announcement.

The convenience store company posted a fuel margin of 33 cents per gallon for the fourth quarter, while it said that fuel same-store gallons sold were up 6.4 percent for that time. All in, Casey’s General Stores posted $1.12 in diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter.

For fiscal year 2021, Casey’s General Stores reported that annual digital sales soared by 96 percent from the prior year. Casey’s General Stores had 3.6 million Casey’s Rewards members at fiscal year-end.

Management said in the announcement that the company “recently closed on the Buchanan Energy acquisition and anticipates closing on the previously disclosed Circle K acquisition in June.” As previously reported, Casey’s General Stores announced in March that it came to a deal to purchase 49 stores in Oklahoma for $39 million in cash from Circle K Stores Inc.

“Casey’s achieved remarkable results throughout the year in one of the most difficult retail environments of our lifetime,” President and CEO Darren Rebelez said in the earnings announcement. “We have great momentum behind our digital engagement efforts, our private brand products have resonated with our guests, our prepared foods business is regaining traction, and we are in the process of welcoming two large acquisitions to the Casey’s family.”

Casey’s General Stores said that the board of directors voted to pay a 34 cent per share quarterly dividend, which is payable Aug. 16, 2021 to shareholders of record on Aug. 2, 2021.

In separate convenience store news, 7-Eleven will be installing electric vehicle (EV) ports in what an announcement referred to as an advancement of “environmental ambitions.”

More specifically, the retailer will be building a minimum of 500 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports at 250 select Canada and U.S. locations by the conclusion of 2022.