Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. of Canada, the parent company of the Circle-K chain of convenience stores, has embarked on a program to increase food sales.  This strategy is in part motivated by the projected decline in long-term demand for gasoline and diesel. It is estimated that in 2030, half of all new vehicles sold will be powered by electricity.

The chain currently derives the majority of income from fuel sales but plans to increase revenue from produce and from both unprepared foods and meals to generate 25 percent of North American sales in the intermediate term.

The company is drawing on experience gained in Europe to improve food offerings and is applying a concept derived from Holiday Station Stores of Minnesota acquired in 2017.

The Couche-Tard operation has 7,011 locations in the U.S., 13 percent of which are operated by franchisees.  The company has 2,076 stores in Canada and 3,070 units in Europe. Couche-Tard joined Kroger and Restaurant Brands International in July to fund Kitchen United, Inc. an  operator of “ghost kitchens”.