Topaz Officially Part of Couche-Tard's Network

LAVAL, Quebec — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has officially moved into The Emerald Isle.

The Laval-based retailer closed on its acquisition of Topaz Energy Group Ltd. of Ireland. The deal was announced in December. Topaz is the largest convenience and fuel retailer in Ireland, made up of 444 stations across the country, including its recently acquired Esso station network. Of these stations, 158 are operated by Topaz and 286 are operated by dealers. 

The agreement also encompassed a commercial fuels operation, with more than 30 depots and two owned terminals. 

The Topaz stores, including those recently acquired from Esso, will be rebranded to the new global Circle K brand. Couche-Tard revealed in September that it was merging its international retail brands under the Circle K banner. 

The new global Circle K brand will replace Couche-Tard's existing Circle K, Statoil, Mac's and Kangaroo Express branding on stores and service stations across Canada, the United States, Scandinavia, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company will retain the company's founding Couche-Tard retail brand in the Province of Quebec in Canada due to the specifics of that market, as CSNews Online previously reported.

"We are very excited to announce this new addition to the Couche-Tard family," said Brian Hannasch, president and CEO of Couche-Tard. "We are pleased to have closed this transaction in such a timely manner, as it represents an outstanding opportunity for growth. We have been working closely with Topaz and we are ready to support it through the next phase of its development."

As of Oct. 11, Couche-Tard's network comprised 8,006 convenience stores throughout North America, including 6,579 stores offering road transportation fuel. Its North American network consists of 15 business units, including 11 in the United States covering 41 states and four in Canada covering all 10 provinces. 

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics and Russia. As of Oct. 11, its European portfolio comprised 2,217 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience products, while the others are unmanned automated service stations that offer road transportation fuel only. 

The company also offers other products, including stationary energy, marine fuel and chemicals. Couche-Tard operates key fuel terminals and fuel depots in six European countries. 

In addition, about 4,700 stores are operated by independent operators under the Circle K banner in 13 other countries or regions worldwide.