Circle K acquires Tiger Tote stores, dealer sites

Circle K Southwest acquires Tiger Tote stores, dealer sites

GONZALES — Roy Cole, CEO of Johnson Oil Company of Gonzales, announced Tuesday that its 21 convenience stores have been sold to Circle K’s United States division.

In addition to the convenience stores that operate under the brand names The Tote and Tiger Tote which offer Exxon and Chevron fuels , the deal includes 151 dealer fuel supply agreements in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Mama’s Kitchen food service operation is also included in the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close by July 19 and is subject to standard regulatory approvals and closing conditions, according to a statement issued by Alimentation Couch-Tard Inc., Circle K’s parent company located in Laval, Quebec. Couch-Tard just completed the purchase of another group of stores operating as The Pantry Inc.

Once Circle K’s deal with Johnson Oil is completed, all 21 stores will be rebranded as Circle K and operated by Circle K’s Southwest Division.

“Subsequent to this transaction, Couche-Tard’s network in the Circle K Southwest Division would include a total of 335 company-operated stores and 67 locations under wholesale or franchise agreement, said Kelly McGuire, vice president of operations for the division. “These stores occupy strategic locations within their respective trade areas. This acquisition would be a great addition to Couche-Tard’s expansion and growth plans for the Southwest Division.”

When factoring in The Pantry deal, Couche-Tard’s network now comprises more than 7,800 stores in North America.

Johnson Oil stressed that the sale will not impact its lubricants and commercial fuels distribution business, which will “continue to provide quality service and products in addition to its Exxon-branded quality service and products in addition to its Exxon-branded lubricants business.”

The company also pointed out that Circle K will offer continuing positions to all eligible retail-level employees.

“The Johnson family is pleased that our stores and employees will be in good hands with CircleK and we think they have a bright future ahead of them,” Cole said.

“For our dealer business, we expect Circle K to build on the great relationships we’ve developed over our company’s long and successful history.”

Gonzales based Johnson Oil was founded in 1958. In 1985 the company opened its first Tiger Tote convenience store in Luling.