Couche-Tard
Couche-Tard is the largest convenience store operator in Canada with a network of over 2,000 stores in Canada as well as a considerable presence in the U.S., with more than 3,000 additional stores. Over 3,600 of the total number are Company-operated stores and nearly 1,400 stores are operated under our affiliate program. The Company sells fuel in 65% of its Company-operated stores.
The Canadian stores are located in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. The U.S. stores are located in 28 states. The stores are primarily operated under the Couche-Tard® and Mac’s® trademarks in Canada and the Circle K® trademark in the U.S.
The stores, which are located in high-traffic areas, include independent stores and those located in linear shopping centres. The design of the stores is based on attracting clients in their local markets rather than conforming to a single model. The simple and ongoing renovations carried out in the Circle K stores make them easy to identify. Most of the stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with high-traffic customer flow early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
The average store size is between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet compared with approximately 3,000 square feet for newly implemented stores. The additional space allows for an area where customers can sit down and, in some cases, quick service restaurants have been implemented.
International network
In addition to the North American Couche-Tard network, there are approximately 3,500 Circle K licensed stores located in seven other regions worldwide (Japan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Guam, Macao and Mexico).
1980 Start of operations with the opening of a first convenience store located in Laval, Québec.
1985 Acquisition of 11 stores operated under the Couche-Tard brand, all located in the Quebec city region.
1986 After five years of operation, the network comprises 34 stores, including 31 franchises, which are all rebranded under Couche-Tard.
1987 Acquisition of the Sept-Jours Convenience Store division of Metro-Richelieu Inc. The network grows to 115 stores.
1993 Acquisition of 60 Mac’s/La Maisonnée stores from Silcorp Limited.
1994 Acquisition of 86 Perrette stores in Quebec.
1995 The network comprises 304 convenience stores, 220 of which are Company-operated, 35 franchises and 49 affiliated stores.
1997 Acquisition of C-Corp Inc. from Provigo Inc., owner of 245 Provi-Soir stores in Quebec and some 50 Wink’s in Ontario and Western Canada, which represents a major step and forms a foundation for further growth, both internally and through acquisitions outside Quebec.
1998 Acquisition of 7 stores located on the North and South shores of Montreal operated under the banner Tôt ou Tard.
1999 Acquisition of Silcorp Limited, which owned 980 stores located in Ontario and Western Canada operated under Mac’s, Mike’s Mart and Beckers banners.
2000 Announcement of the implementation of a state of the art distribution center for the Quebec operations, which created over 100 jobs in the Montreal region.
2000 Twenty years after the opening of its first store and two decades of development and growth, Couche-Tard is positioned as the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry and the ninth largest convenience retailer in North America with 1,625 stores, 460 of which have motor fuel. Some 11,500 people work throughout its network and at head office.
2001 First breakthrough of Couche-Tard in the United States : acquisition of the assets of Johnson Oil Company, Inc., owner of 225 Bigfoot stores, all located in the U.S. Midwest. With a solid management team, one of the best profitability track records in the U.S. convenience retailing industry, and strong growth potential in a booming, highly fragmented market, make this acquisition a perfect fit for Couche-Tard.
2001 Acquisition of R-Con Centres Inc., Mac’s master franchise in Manitoba and acquisition from BP Amoco of 6 stores located in the United States Midwest.
2002 Acquisition of 12 stores from Bruce Miller Oil Company, 16 Handy Andy Food Stores and 287 Dairy Mart stores all located in the United States Midwest.
2002 Acquisition of its first network of non-traditional stores, Tabatout, a network of 30 stores in Quebec, which is part of Couche-Tard’s strategy to develop a network of stores located in high-traffic areas such as office buildings, shopping centres, airports and subway stations.
2003 Acquisition of 92 Dairy Mart stores as well as 43 stores from Clark Retail Enterprises located in the United States Midwest.
2003 Agreement with Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants (ADQSR) whereby Couche-Tard acquires the master franchise of Dunkin’ Donuts throughout Quebec : 104 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants.
2003 Acquisition of The Circle K Corporation from ConocoPhillips Company that operates 1,663 Circle K corporate stores located in 16 States and has a franchising or licensing relationship with 627 additional stores in the U.S. and worldwide.
2004 Acquisition from Shell Oil Products of 22 stores located in Arizona, converted into Circle K stores.
2005 Signing of an agreement with Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants for the development of 65 Dunkin’ Donuts in Ohio during the next six years.
2005 Couche-Tard adds 78 stores to its store count, all sites located in the United States.
2005 Signature of an agreement with ConocoPhillips Company for the conversion of an additional 75 convenience stores of ConocoPhillips’ network, located in the Western half of the U.S., to the Circle K brand.
2005 Couche-Tard grants a master franchise agreement for Mexico for the Circle K brand to a subsidiary of Grupo Kaltex, S.A. de C.V. providing for the opening of 250 stores within the next five years.
2006 Acquisition of 90 stores operated under the Spectrum banner, located in major markets throughout the states of Georgia and Alabama.
2006 Acquisition from Sparky’s Oil Company of 24 stores located in West Central Florida.
2006 Acquisition of 54 stores located in Ohio from Holland Oil Company. These stores operated under Holland Oil and Close to Home.
2006 Acquisition of 236 sites from Shell Oil Products US and its affiliate Motiva Enterprises LLC. These sites, converted to the Circle K brand, are located in Baton Rouge, Denver, greater Memphis area, Orlando, Southeast Florida and Tempa.
2006 Acquisition of 13 stores operated under the Groovin Noovin banner from Richcor, Inc. The 13 convenience stores are located in the Pansacola, Florida market.
2007 Acquisition of 53 stores operated under the All Star banner from Star Fuel Marts, LLC, located in Oklahoma city.
2007 Acquisition of 28 stores operated under the Sterling banner from Sterling Stores, LLC, located in northwest Ohio.
2007 Couche-Tard launches its Share Repurchase Program.
2007 Couche-Tard concludes a sale and leaseback transaction with Cole Capital relating to 83 properties for US$ 131.4 million.
2008 Acquisition of 15 stores operated under the Speedway banner from Speeway Superamerica, LLC, located in central Illinois.
2008 Acquisition of 83 stores operated under the Convenient Food Mart banner from Spirit Energy, LLC, located in the St.Louis Missouri area and nearby central Illinois area.
Canada Business Directory @ February 2, 2009