ANKENY, I.A.(WNAX)- Revenue for Casey’s General Stores in its just concluded fiscal year reached eight point seven billion dollars.

Casey’s CEO Darren Rebelez says in the midst of the most challenging business environment of our lifetime, that’s an astounding figure.

Rebelez says Casey’s adjusted what it stocked inside its stores more than a year ago, selling less grab and go food while selling more PPE and groceries. He says there was also higher demand for beer and alcohol as restaurants and bars closed and people began consuming more alcohol at home. In February, March and April of this year, Rebelez says in store sales were up 13 percent.

Retail gas sales dropped throughout the country during the pandemic and the decline is shown on Casey’s books, too.

That record fuel margin pushed Casey’s profits from fuel sales up nearly 24 percent. Casey’s share price ended the fiscal year 18 percent higher than the previous year. Casey’s employs 40 thousand people and operates more than 21 hundred convenience stores in 16 states including 1 here in Aberdeen.