HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There could be another player in the bid for the potential sale of Kroger’s C-Store business.

Casey’s General Stores has submitted an initial bid for Kroger’s convenience store business, according to news reports. Casey’s and 7-Eleven are said to be interested in the Kroger stores, which includes Kwik Shop.

The Ankeny, Iowa-based convenience store operator has been under pressure from activist investor JCP Investment Management to explore strategic alternatives, including a potential sale. Purchasing Kroger’s C-store business could quell the pressure to sell. If the deal were to go through, it would bring Casey’s back to the area. Casey’s had a store in South Hutchinson until it closed in July of 2013.

Kroger announced in October that it was exploring strategic alternatives for its convenience-store business, operating 784 stores across 18 states.

Casey’s General Stores operates more than 2,000 convenience stores in 15 Midwestern states. Approximately 57 percent of its stores are in small towns with populations of under 5,000, while 17 percent of its stores are in communities with populations greater than 20,000.