Circle K Joins News America Marketing Network

NEW YORK -- Circle K has joined the News America Marketing (NAM) in-store marketing network, effectively immediately. Through the agreement, NAM, which has focused on grocery, drug, office supply and mass merchandising stores, will expand into the convenience store market for the first time.

NAM, a division of News Corp., operates consumer coupon website SmartSource.com and publishes the Sunday coupon insert SmartSource magazine, which is delivered to more than 74 million homes each week, the company said. It also launched free iPad couponing app SmartSource Xpress in March 2012. Its media network will be extended to all 3,050 company-operated Circle K stores, along with a significant number of franchise and affiliate locations.

"We appreciate Circle K's confidence in our partnership and performance in the convenience store class of trade," said Chris Mixson, president, News America Marketing. "We believe our programs will add significant value to their business and their customers."

NAM will provide coupon machines, shelftalks, shelfvision video and tear pads to the participating Circle K stores.

"Circle K is a world-class organization and the largest corporately-owned convenience store chain in America," said Marty Garofalo, executive vice president, trade, News America Marketing. "We are proud to have them as a partner and part of our growing network. After significant testing, we are confident that our programs will help Circle K generate additional sales and incremental profit. We look forward to working with them and continuing to tailor our services to their needs while offering our CPG clients an opportunity to extend their activity to include this leading chain."

Circle K is part of the Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. family. It has more than 3,300 Circle K stores across the United States and more than 4,000 international locations.