Casey’s Quietly Becomes Fifth-Largest U.S. Pizza Chain Through Small-Town Strategy

Casey’s, a Fortune 500 convenience-store chain nearing 3,000 outlets—about half in towns under 5,000 residents—has risen to become the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States, based on prepared-food and beverage sales, Bank of America Research reports. Tom Brennan, the company’s chief merchandising officer, confirmed the ranking and noted the brand’s status as the fourth-largest liquor-license holder and third-largest convenience-store operator.

The growth stems from a deliberate focus on tiny markets that larger competitors overlook, offering pizza varieties like taco, breakfast and four-cheese pies made in-store while keeping prices below industry averages despite broader food-price inflation. Platforms such as TikTok and YouTube have amplified its reputation, with Gen-Z engagement climbing sharply. New menu items, including Sauced Wings launched in early 2025 and a four-cheese pizza with a post-bake seasoning, are rolling out to nearly 900 stores, and executives see Texas’s small-town corridors as the next frontier for expansion.