The Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard is looking to continue to grow in 2007 and the company's CEO says it expects much of that growth to come from acquisitions.
Alain Bouchard, said in a conference call with investors and analysts last week, "I think we're going to have a strong year on the acquisition side and, what I've seen visiting these targets in the last few months, these are great assets."
Couche-Tard, the owner of the Circle K chain and the third largest operator of convenience stores in North America, currently operates 4,983 stores.
Mr. Bouchard said that, in addition to acquisitions, the company would "focus on innovation and the launch of new products and services and investing capital in our existing stores," during its 2007 fiscal year.
Discussion Questions: How would you rate the current health and future prospects of the convenience store industry? Do you see consolidation as an indication of the relative strength or weakness of the industry?