Committed to delivering fast and friendly service – Circle K 

Circle K has become one of the most well-known convenience store brands, known around the world for high-quality products and excellent customer service for over 60 years. Their stroy begins in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay’s Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Nobody could have predicted that these stores would serve as the foundation of Circle K. 

During its early years, Hervey’s enterprising spirit enabled the company to make a name for itself in the southwestern United States. He expanded the Circle K franchise into neighboring states such as New Mexico and Arizona. 

International market

Circle K expanded its retail network over the next few decades through a number of acquisitions that were integrated into the Circle K brand.  

By 1975, there were 1,000 Circle K locations in the United States.  

The big step was when a licensing agreement was established the first Circle K stores in Japan in 1979. That is when Circle K entered the international market.   

As a result, the company’s expansion continued, and by 1984, sales had surpassed $1 billion. 

Later, a franchise program was launched in 1999 to assist operators looking to build a business with a leading convenience store brand.  

Circle K was purchased by Alimentation Couche-Tard in 2003 and has since grown into a global brand with a presence in over 20 countries. 

Company Profile

Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and fuel retail, operating in 26 countries and territories, with close to 14,200 stores, of which approximately 10,800 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience store operators in the United States and it is a leader in the convenience store industry and road transportation fuel retail in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as in Ireland. It also has an important presence in Poland and Hong Kong SAR. Approximately 124,000 people are employed throughout its network. 

To get to know who are the industry key players, visit our Interview of the Week page.

To stay updated, visit our Franchise News section.

To learn more, visit our Franchising Tips section