Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Alimentation Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and fuel retail, operating in 29 countries and territories, with more than 16,700 stores, of which almost 13,100 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience-store operators in the United States and a leader in the convenience-store industry and road transportation fuel retail in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as in Ireland. It also has an important presence in Poland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China and has expanded to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. More than 150,000 people are employed throughout its network.

In terms of U.S. acquisition activity in 2023, Couche-Tard purchased 112 MAPCO Express sites from Compania de Petroleos de Chile S.A. (COPEC), Santiago, Chile. The transaction included a network of modern sites predominantly in Tennessee and Alabama, but also in Kentucky and Georgia. All 112 sites are company-operated and most of the real estate is owned. The transaction also included surplus property and a logistics fleet.Also in 2023, Couche-Tard finalized the acquisition of Big Red Stores from Summerwood Partners LLC, Bryant, Arkansas, rebranding the 44 Arkansas convenience stores to Circle K.

Among its portfolio of programs, Circle K launched a national, U.S. advertising campaign called, "Fueled by Circle K," focusing on the brand's fuel and its availability in more than half of its locations. Meanwhile, Couche-Tard has deployed electric-vehicle fast chargers in the United States.

Outside of the c-store channel, the company has expanded its partnership with cannabis retail and technology platform Fire & Flower in Canada and the United States. It is also investing in food delivery services and ghost kitchens.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2024.