EG Group, Couche-Tard (Circle K) considering merger.

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jamcool
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EG Group, Couche-Tard (Circle K) considering merger.

Post by jamcool »

https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-ac ... lks-report

Expect a lot of stores to be divested (possibly Cumberland Farms)in the US if this occurs.
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Re: EG Group, Couche-Tard (Circle K) considering merger.

Post by BillyGr »

jamcool wrote: May 3rd, 2022, 1:37 pm https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-ac ... lks-report

Expect a lot of stores to be divested (possibly Cumberland Farms)in the US if this occurs.
Perhaps in MA/NH or ME.

Definitely not in NY (stores do not overlap at all), CT (only 3 total Circle K locations) or VT (only 7 total Circle K locations).
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Re: EG Group, Couche-Tard (Circle K) considering merger.

Post by storewanderer »

Pretty logical merger. EG Group was a complete shit show in the US until they gave Cumberland Farms control over the entire operation. They really ran the former Kroger c-stores into the ground.

I do like the Cumberland Farms product mix and programs that have been implemented in the EG Group stores though. These are better than what Circle K has. Circle K has demonstrated an ability to learn from what they buy so maybe they can keep some of that. This would be a very easy merger. Mostly already have unbranded fuel, most have the same Radiant POS as Circle K uses, many are in territories where Circle K is already present but not particularly strong. Really logical merger.

I'd expect all of the Kroger banners to go away, and that "Minit Mart" joke. The only banner worth keeping is Cumberland Farms, potentially. Even that is a maybe.

It is unfortunate Kroger got out of the c-store business and sold to this EG Group. After spending some time in rural Colorado recently, those Loaf N Jug Stores often sit in very small towns with no grocery store. Kroger has basically no full size store presence in the Eastern part of Colorado (previously they had a strong Loaf N Jug presence in SE Colorado). That enhanced grocery mix that Kroger was offering in those stores was really helpful. The stores were a little bigger than a typical c-store to house all of the additional items. Now they have quite a bit of open space. There is no difference in the mix/pricing of a Loaf N Jug vs. a Quik Stop at this point in time. Quik Stop isn't really much different than it ever was, but Loaf N Jug is sure different...
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