All types of retailers have been trying to lure in customers with special offers during the economic downturn, and that includes convenience stores too. During a recent conference call on quarterly profits, the chief financial officer of the Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain talked about efforts to get customers inside the stores.
Gary Walljasper says beer is one item they’re featuring. Walljasper says they are taking a stronger look at the popular premium brands of beer in local areas, and he says it varies on the type of beer based on the region. He says they will focus on the larger packs, the 12, 18 or 24-packs of beer. Walljasper says it’s part of offering more deals to customers.
He says they see a movement over to “value oriented” purchases and people equate value in beer to the multipacks, so they are focusing on them and seeing people respond. Walljasper says they are also trying to get people visit the store through special food offers.
Walljasper says they are offering $5 subs and have different sandwich and pizza promotions each month. “Again, we’re trying to create some sense of value that our customers can come in and have, and that’s really what’s driving that,” Walljasper explained.
Walljasper said the value-oriented promotions drove up sales 13% in the last quarter, and overall sales this fiscal year are up just over 10%. The company had an average profit margin of just over 63% on the sale of its prepared food items.