Circle K, the convenience store chain whose parent company is trying to acquire 7-Eleven, will more than double its store count in upstate New York to 70 locations starting next year.
Circle K agreed to a franchise partnership with Briad Group for the New York stores, according to a news release. A Circle K spokesperson declined to identify the cities where the new stores will open. Financial terms of the franchise agreement weren’t disclosed, either.
Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian company that owns Circle K, in October boosted its unsolicited bid to $47 billion for Seven & I Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, the world’s largest convenience store chain. Japan-based Seven & I Holdings earlier this year rejected Couche-Tard’s first bid. Couche-Tard, which means “night owl” in French, is based in Laval, Quebec.
Shortly after Couche-Tard’s second bid, 7-Eleven said it will close 444 underperforming North American stores in unidentified locations to cut costs. Additionally, 7-Eleven said it will open about 600 stores in North America with a new design that emphasizes expanded offerings of ready-made foods, according to food technology trade publication Food on Demand.
Briad Group currently franchises Wendy’s fast-food restaurants and Hilton and Marriott hotels. The new agreement will be the Livingston, New Jersey-based company’s first franchise arrangement with Circle K.
In New York state, Circle K’s current footprint includes locations at 535 E. Genessee St. in Fayetteville, 125 Bloomingdale Road in Hicksville, 298 Titusville Road in Poughkeepsie and 3787 W. Seneca Turnpike in Syracuse.