Circle K parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. this week presented its 2026 Business Strategy Update, highlighting its operating priorities through fiscal 2030. The company introduced its Core + More strategy: Amplify the Core and Invest in More.
“The strategy focuses on strengthening core platforms while pursuing targeted investment opportunities to drive long-term profitable growth,” the company said. The “core” platforms include road transportation fuel, nicotine products and beverages, among other high grossing categories.
Couche-Tard also highlighted four pillars to support its foodservice strategy:
- Operations execution
- Targeted menu and deals
- Innovation
- Controlled supply chain
The company is focusing on providing “operations excellence” in the foodservice category with on-time cooking; hero item availability; food spoilage management and data driven process improvement. Couche-Tard also has plans to grow its network by an additional 750 stores in the next five years through franchise expansion, development growth and network investments and single site acquisitions.
"We are pleased to share the next stage of our growth journey. Core + More is a focused strategy that builds on our leadership in core categories while investing in the areas that will position Couche–Tard to win the customer for years to come" said Alex Miller, president and CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard. "By enabling it all with the capabilities, technology, data and supply chain that support our stores, we can amplify what we do best for customers today and unlock new growth for tomorrow.”
Filipe Da Silva, CFO, added: "We believe we have the right recipe to support profitable growth, with targets that are calibrated, measurable and well understood across the organization. Our focus remains on consistent operational execution and long-term value creation. Together, Core + More provides a path to support earnings growth and disciplined capital deployment.”
The company also shared new long-term financial guidance. From the end of FY2026 to fFY2030, it aims to achieve a CAGR:
- For the year-over-year rate of growth rate of consolidated same-store merchandise revenues of 2% to 3%
- For total merchandise and service revenues of 4% to 5%
- For total road transportation fuel gross profit1 in line with inflation
- For the year-over-year rate of growth rate of normalized expenses in line with inflation or lower
- For adjusted EBITDA of 6% to 8%
- For adjusted diluted net earnings per share of 10% or more
In other Couche-Tard news, the company opened a new distribution center (DC) in Otsego, Minnesota, to support nearly 500 Holiday Station stores and Circle K locations throughout the Twin Cities and the upper Midwest. It is the first of three new DCs, with the others located in Hazelwood, Missouri, and Lockbourne, Ohio.