Circle K Rolls Out Exclusive Brand of Cigarettes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Circle K added the Traffic cigarette brand to its backbar.

The retailer, a division of Canada-based retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., is carrying the brand in its convenience stores in 40 states. The consumer products division of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC), Premier Manufacturing of Chesterfield, Mo., is supplying the cigarettes.

Traffic is a control-label cigarette brands for Circle K vs. private label, according to USTC, which retains ownership of the brand.

Circle K already carries its own private-label cigarettes, Crown, which parent company Couche-Tard launched in across its retail brand in 2012.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Circle K. We look forward to supplying Circle K convenience stores with the highest quality U.S. tobacco products as they continue their growth here," said USTC CEO Stuart Thompson. 

The national rollout of Traffic cigarettes into Circle K locations was completed in June. The cigarettes will be supported with a national advertising campaign and on-going promotional support in Circle K c-stores. 

Raleigh-based U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. is a grower-owned marketing cooperative. USTC also produces consumer products from Premier Manufacturing for the U.S. market under brand names of Wildhorse, 1839, Shield, 1st Class, Ultra Buy and Traffic.