MANAGEMENT TEAM (left to right)
Ronald M. Lamb Chairman of the Board
Terry W. Handley Senior VP & COO
Julia L. Jackowski VP–Human Resources
Eli J. Wirtz VP–Corporate Counsel
Robert J. Myers President & CEO
Bradley G. Heyer VP–Information Systems
Darryl F. Bacon VP–Food Services
Cleo R. Kuhns VP–Real Estate-Store Development
Michael R. Richardson VP–Marketing
Sam J. Billmeyer Senior VP–Transportation & Support Operations
Hal D. Brown VP–Support Services
William J. Walljasper Senior VP & CFO
Russell D. Sukut VP–Treasurer
Robert C. Ford VP–Store Operations
John G. Harmon Senior VP & Secretary |
Our proprietary prepared food program has earned its reputation as one of the best in the business. We made our latest gains by refining what are now established strategies: matching menus to customer preferences and traffic patterns, introducing profitable new items, rotating offerings to maintain customer appeal, and managing stales effectively. Near fiscal year-end we expanded our fountain choices—another positive that should help keep our superior sales trend on the rise.
We’ve raised the fiscal 2007 performance bar for our two inside sales categories because recent initiatives have enhanced our control over outcomes. Casey’s buying power is increasing our influence with vendors, our capacity to process data and use the information effectively in our decision-making is formidable, and our distribution system will easily handle all the volume we can generate.
We intended to hold the percentage increase in operating expenses to less than the percentage increase in gross profit, and we did so. Operating expenses were up 10.6%, well below our 15.2% improvement in gross profit. An increase in wages primarily due to incentive compensation was a factor in the operating expense percentage. That's because we rightfully rewarded those who delivered the year's impressive results. |