Circle K Stores, Inc. is an international chain of convenience stores, and the largest independent convenience store operator in the U.S. in terms of the number of company-operated stores. Founded in 1951, Circle K has become one of the most widely recognized convenience store brands, known worldwide for quality products and great customer service. The chain currently has close to 7,000 stores in the U.S. across 47 states, with locations in more than 24 countries and territories. They also operate a network of more than 2,500 car wash locations. Circle K Stores was acquired by the Canadian multinational company Couche-Tard in 2003. The company is headquartered in Tempe, AZ.

Alimentation Couche-Tard, or simply Couche-Tard (TSE: ATD) is a Canadian multinational operator of convenience stores. The company is the 3rd largest convenience store operator in the world and has approximately 14,332 stores (10,800 offering fuel) across 24 countries and territories, and approximately 122,000 employees. The Couche-Tard company umbrella mostly operates through three brands: Touche-Tard its flagship brand, as well as Circle K and Indigo, a network of automated fuel sites in Sweden and Denmark. In 2022, the company acquired True Blue Car Wash, LLC, an operator of 65 car wash sites (AZ, TX, IL, IN) under the banners of Clean Freak and Rainstorm. The company has an investment grade S&P rating of BBB+ and a long-term Moody’s credit rating of Baa1. In 2022 they had a market cap of $44.4B and earned over $70.5B in revenue. The company is headquartered in Laval, Quebec, Canada.