In retail, some things change fast, and some unfold slowly. A 70-year-old convenience store chain is being quietly removed from corners and neighborhoods.
It was financially sound and not in debt. A rival purchased it. Although the stores will stay open for now, the name won’t. This is what’s happening at CEFCO.
A Store Familiar to Many
CEFCO was not a national chain of stores, but it had shops in Texas and the south where it represented a convenient pit stop for gas, a bite to eat, and a cup of coffee.
It had 200 or so stores. Folks in these regions were familiar with the name and stopped out of habit. But today, something is happening in the background.
Not a Bankruptcy Story
Unlike many other retail chains that closed due to financial issues, CEFCO didn’t close for these reasons. It was purchased. The chain continued operating when Fikes Wholesale sold it to another firm in the same line of business.
The Deal That Started It
In May 2024, Casey’s General Stores agreed to acquire Fikes Wholesale, the parent of CEFCO, in a cash deal worth $1.145 billion.
After-tax transaction was about $980 million. It was a corporate action aimed at helping Casey’s grow, especially in the South and Texas.
Where CEFCO Came From
CEFCO started in 1952 as a single small gas station in Cameron, Texas. It grew over several decades into a chain of almost 200 stores. The business developed quietly but consistently and was a name recognized at home in small towns and cities. It had stores in communities for over 70 years.
Why Casey’s Bought It
Casey’s, a Midwestern chain, has been growing. With this acquisition, it will have almost 2,900 stores. 148 of those are new Texas stores alone.
The others are in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. To accompany the stores, it also acquires a fuel terminal and commissary in Texas.
The Plan for the CEFCO Name
Casey’s has no plans to keep the CEFCO name. From the beginning, Casey’s clarified that they would rebrand all stores. The stores will still be open but will be remodeled later and run under Casey’s name instead.
A Slow Transition
The company didn’t rebrand the stores all at once. It started by testing some stores with a mix of CEFCO and Casey’s services to see what customers liked, especially in locations where CEFCO was highly present. They used that to determine how the transition would take place.
Investing in the Stores
Casey is going to spend $150 million on remodeling stores it has bought. New designs and kitchens will be made available to most of them.
Casey intends to align them with their usual services, which include typically ordered food like pizza. It will be done gradually and will take time.
When the Changes Begin
The whole rebranding process will start in 2025 and will take 9 to 12 months. Meanwhile, stores will retain the CEFCO brand name. But once the transition starts, Casey’s will gradually replace CEFCO signage, uniforms, and branding.
What Happens to the Staff
Employees will have to stay on board during the rebranding of stores. They’ll be trained on Casey’s systems and food service operations.
Although no layoffs on a large scale are planned, certain jobs or store operations might get changed as the new organization resumes.
What Customers Will Notice
Customers may first notice small things changing—new products, new uniforms, or the same blend of coffee but made by a different manufacturer.
Then signs will change. Finally, the CEFCO logo will be removed from every store. For regular customers, it might be a strange experience, even though the store is in the same place.
Why This Matters
CEFCO is not the first to be absorbed by a larger retail chain. But for neighborhoods where CEFCO was the go-to store for groceries, gas, or lunch, the loss will feel personal. It’s not just business—it’s daily routine practice.
One Brand Ends, Another Grows
Casey’s will keep on expanding under the provisions of this transaction, and CEFCO will fade away quietly. The stores themselves will remain in business, just under a different name.
It’s a low-profile move, with no big press release—but a change that will not go unnoticed by anyone familiar with the red-and-white sign.