Casey’s is rolling out a new “team-member developed innovation” following its annual Pizza Competition: the Barn Burner Chicken Pizza, crafted and named by Casey’s district manager and Indianapolis-based Terrell Banks. The Barn Burner Chicken Pizza features spicy BBQ chicken for a “punch of fiery, sweet and savory flavors,” and uses a Sriracha sauce base, grilled chicken, bacon, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, red onion, and jalapenos, and is then finished with a post-bake drizzle of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Customers can try the Barn Burner Chicken Pizza in select markets.

The annual Casey’s Pizza Competition is a bracket-style culinary showdown that invites team members to develop new flavors and showcase their creativity. Entries are judged on visual presentation, taste and innovation, with four finalists earning a spot on the big stage at the annual Casey’s Commitment Conference to prepare their pizzas for a panel of judges that includes Casey’s executive chef and culinary director, Andrew Kintigh, and special celebrity guests, which this year included four-time James Beard and Emmy award-winning celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern.

“I’ve tasted a lot of gas station food in my life, and Casey’s pizza is in a league of its own,” said Zimmern. “The creativity I saw judging the Casey’s Pizza Competition was incredible, and Terrell’s Barn Burner Chicken Pizza stood out instantly. It’s bold, balanced and built with a spicy BBQ flavor that keeps coming. Casey’s shows what happens when passionate chefs have the freedom to innovate and that great pizza can come from unexpected places, and this slice is proof.”

Zimmern was one of the NACS Show closing general session speakers in 2024, along with Chef David Chang. During a panel and cooking demo, the two chefs discussed how c-store operators can bring innovation to their foodservice programs.

Both chefs further discussed how retailers can push the boundaries in a Convenience Matters podcast, moderated by Andrew Kintigh. Listen to the full conversation, “Chefs Andrew Zimmern and David Chang Talk About C-Store Food,” here.

In 2024, Casey’s added the Pickle Wrap pizza to its menu at select stores following that year’s pizza competition. The item was created by district manager Andrew Cairl to showcase a classic Midwest snack food. Read about Casey’s 2024 Pizza Competition participant Cairl in the March 2025 issue of NACS Magazine article “The Path to Becoming a Pizza Pioneer at Casey's.”