TRURO, Nova Scotia -- Add Wilson Fuels Inc. to the list of possible suitors for Shell Canada Ltd.'s divestment of 260 gas stations in Quebec and the Maritimes in Canada, reported The Turo Daily News. Earlier this week, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Laval, Quebec, which owns the Mac's convenience store chain in Canada and the Circle K chain in the United States, was named as a potential candidate to acquire the stations.
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
"It's the type of business we're in and we have an interest in it," Ian Wilson, president of Turo, Nova Scotia-based Wilson Fuels, told the newspaper.
The Canadian arm of Royal Dutch Shell PLC said in a press release that it is seeking a buyer or buyers interested in expanding in these markets while remaining "stewards" of the Shell brand. Even if Wilson Fuels were the successful bidder, the gas stations would remain under the Shell banner.
The network includes convenience food stores, car washes and other customer-driven offerings, as well as the gasoline components of the operations.
"I think that's what they're looking for, is to maintain the Shell brand," Wilson said. "We're certainly capable of operating them under the Shell brand, and that wouldn't compromise our ability to continue to operate them under the Wilson's brand as well."
Wilson Fuels currently owns and or operates more than 50 stations, and acquiring the Shell stations would be a big move, Wilson added.
Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard currently operates a network of 5,904 convenience stores, 4,178 of which include motor-fuel dispensing. The stores are operated by 12 business units, including nine in the United States covering 42 states and the District of Columbia (primarily under regional divisions of the Circle K brand), and three in Canada covering all 10 provinces (primarily under the Mac's brand).
London-based Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague. Shell has been operating in Canada since 1911 and employs approximately 8,000 people across the country. A leading manufacturer, distributor and marketer of refined petroleum products, Shell produces natural gas, natural gas liquids and bitumen, and is Canada's largest producer of sulfur. Shell is one of Canada's oil sands developers and operates the Athabasca Oil Sands Project on behalf of the joint venture partners.
As an independent gasoline retailer and supplier, Wilsons Gas Stops operates its own gas stations and distributes fuel to dealers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. All of its company stations provide Go Store c-stores. Some feature restaurant services and car washes. Wilsons Gas Stops operates 52 company service stations, 9 Wilsons Gas Stops, 42 Esso stations and 1 Shell. We distribute to 211 dealers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.