Gas station pizza: A sign of Iowa's post-pandemic recovery

We're returning to work again and our appetite for gas station cuisine is showing it.

By the numbers: Food and fountain drink sales were up 13.4% in Casey's stores from February-April 2021, according to the company's Q4 2021 report.

• The return of morning and overnight foot traffic contributed to the rise of pizza slice, bakery and beverage sales, Casey's CEO Darren Rebelez said during a stakeholder's call Wednesday.
• During the same period last year, in-store food and drink sales went down by 13.5% due to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Yes, but: Whole-pizza sales skyrocketed in 2020 — a sign that people were eating inside, rather than on-the-go.

What's next: The return of pre-pandemic foot traffic isn't expected until the fall, especially since school is out for the summer, Rebelez said.