Big Red is becoming the big, red circle. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. finalized the acquisition of Big Red Stores from Summerwood Partners LLC, Bryant, Arkansas, on April 17, and the rebranding to Circle K is now underway at 44 convenience stores across Arkansas.
The rebranding will continue through April 23 and may require brief closures as the chain completes the work, it said. Couche-Tard is incorporating the stores into Circle K’s Gulf Coast business unit, based in Pensacola, Florida, which oversees locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
Th Big Red network features large-format stores that have ample space for enhanced foodservice and product offerings, Couche-Tard said.
“We are very pleased to be expanding across Arkansas and welcoming Big Red’s great team members into our family as we raise the Circle K banner at these high-quality locations,” said Trey Powell, vice president of operations for the Gulf Coast business unit of Circle K. “We’re looking forward to introducing our new customers to the great offerings and exciting programs that make Circle K a leading destination for convenience and mobility.”
- Alimentation Couche-Tard is No. 2 on CSP’s 2023 Top 40 update to the 2022 Top 202 ranking of convenience store chains by store count. Summerwood Partners is No. 153 on CSP’s 2022 Top 202. Watch for the full 2023 Top 202 in June.
Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard’s 24-country global c-store network includes approximately 9,300 locations in North America, with more than 7,100 in the United States, primarily under the Circle K and Holiday Stationstores banners, and approximately 2,100 in Canada under the Circle K, Mac’s and Couche-Tard banners. Couche-Tard’s total worldwide network consists of approximately 14,300 mostly Circle K-branded c-stores, of which approximately 10,900 offer motor fuel.
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