PITTSBURGH -- Within the past week, 12 former Dairy Mart locations in the Pittsburgh area have converted to the Circle K banner, reported the Pittsburgh Business Times. Both brands are owned by Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., which purchased Hudson, Ohio-based Dairy Mart three years ago.
Michel Bernard, vice president of operations for Couche-Tard's Midwest division, told the newspaper that the company recently "determined that Circle K will be our national brand everywhere in the country."
Bernard said the [image-nocss] company will revamp its local Dairy Mart stores to emphasize a greater selection of food offerings.
As reported in CSP Daily News, Couche-Tard is in an expansion mode and seeking other convenience chains to acquire. The fact that Pennsylvania convenience stores are generally not permitted to sell beer and wine, a major sales generator for such stores elsewhere, has not dampened the company's interest here, according to the report.
"It's not a preferred market, but we have interest to expand there anyway," Bernard said.
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