COUCHE-TARD THROUGH THE YEARS ALAIN BOUCHARD STARTED Alimentation Couche-Tard with one store in 1980. In 1986, with a network of 34 stores, a predecessor of Couche-Tard completed an initial public offering and listed its shares on the Montreal Exchange. After establishing a leading position in Quebec, Couche- Tard expanded through internal growth and acquisitions in…
A True Up and Comer
LIKE A LOT OF people in the industry, Terry Johnson, director of marketing for Chester, Va.-based Uppy’s/Southside Oil, got his start by working the cash register at a local c-store while earning his business degree. Soon after graduation, Johnson became a store manager, the fi rst step toward his 30-year career in the business. Johnson,…
THE GIVING SEASON
Green H. Oil Co.’s five company operated stores kicked off its main fundraiser of the year—The Empty Stocking Fund— by collecting $3,000 in just 10 days. According to Green Oil’s Director of Marketing Jim Callahan, the company hopes to exceed the $20,000 it raised last year that assured 1,100 children woke up to presents under…
Double Kwik to Sell 57 Local Stores
WISE, VA.-BASED DOUBLE KWIK Markets has entered into plans to sell its 57 convenience locations to Mechanicsville, Va.-based GPM Investments. GPM plans to convert the entire Double Kwik chain to its Fas Mart brand across Southwest Virginia and Tennessee. According to David McComas, CEO of GPM, the acquisition is a “natural extension of where we’re…
Kum & Go Launches New Coffee Line
KUM & GO IS ASKING customers to “Taste the Difference” with Java Ridge—the company’s new premium coffee line, which was introduced at its more than 450 c-stores in 13 states. The launch of Java Ridge Premium Coffee is the culmination of an 18-month search by Kum & Go for the best tasting and highest quality…
Circle of Partnership
DAVID DELRAHIM HAS ROOTS all over the globe, coming to America before college and settling in Philadelphia. He then moved out West to finish his education at the University of Southern California. Always fascinated with old service stations, he bought his fi rst site in 1983 and continued to operate multiple stores over the years.…
Susser Raising $200M for T&C Deal
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS-BASED SUSSER HOLDINGS, operator of 330 convenience stores in Texas and Oklahoma under the Stripes banner, is in the process of acquiring San Angelo, Texas-based Town & Country Food Stores, operator of 140 c-stores in Central and West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, for $361 million. To fund the transaction, Susser has priced…
BIC’S PAT CORDLE LEADS NEW NACS SUPPLIER BOARD
NEW NACS SUPPLIER BOARD CHAIRMAN Pat Cordle, vice president of sales and marketing for Bic Corp., leads the new slate of officers who will serve on the 2007-08 NACS Supplier Board that was announced during the Supplier Board meeting at the NACS Show 2007 in Atlanta. In addition, Brad Heetland, director of east area sales,…
Balmar Petroleum Rebranding to 7-Eleven
RICHARD ONESLAGER, PRESIDENT of Firsthand Management LLC, the retail operating arm of Balmar Petroleum, a petroleum fuels distributing company headquartered in Centennial, Colo., has finalized a deal with 7-Eleven Inc. making him a 7-Eleven Business Conversion Program (BCP) franchisee for his stores in Northern Colorado. The 10 stores that will be franchised with 7-Eleven will…
NACS Emphasizes “The Power of One”
NACS PRESIDENT AND CEO Hank Armour stressed a simple message at the 2007 Opening General Session. “We may not look the same or operate the same, but we are one. And our theme for this year’s NACS Show perfectly reflects this mission and where we are today—one industry, one voice and one show.” Armour discussed…