Alimentation Couche-Tard looking to buy 7-Eleven

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Apparently they're fighting it hard in Japan. I remember when the Southland Corporation basically sold the parent company to the Japanese licensee. And now they're going into heavy protectionism now that a Canadian company is trying to take it over.

Seven & i is seeking reclassification of 7-Eleven’s status from a “non-core” to “core” rating or “protected” status under Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, insider sources told the newspaper. That change would allow the government to weigh in on the deal if the parties reach an agreement, said the report. It would require prior notification of any purchase of its shares above 10%.​
Core industries include sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy and rare earths. The law was designed to protect the country from security risks, such as the outflow of military technology, the report said.​
 
In my area they just announced they have purchased the Get Go stations (gas stations and convenience stores) which are connected to many Giant Eagle grocery stores. They will become Circle K stores which are also owned by Alimentation Couche-Tard

Alimentation Couche-Tard, a Canadian convenience store company that operates Circle K gas stations, is buying the GetGo Café + Market locations from Giant Eagle. The deal includes approximately 270 GetGo locations in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
 
I love couche tarts. Wait a minute.

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What's interesting to me is that if this were to go through, it could create a near monopoly of gas stations in many areas of the US, and situations like this is exactly why the term Monopoly even exists in the first place.

The difference is that neither of these companies are US companies, so would the United States have any power to do anything about it?

I don't normally follow this kind of stuff, so I honestly don't know.
 
Around me in the Minneapolis area the 2 most popular stations by me (by far) seem to be Speedway (recently changed from Super America and now owned by 7-11) and Holiday (old local brand now owned by Couche-Tard).

There are many, many intersections where these 2 are across the street from each other.
 
Convenience stores play a much larger role in Asia, and offer not just food/snacks, but other goods and services, like package shipping/pickup, postal services, and that type of thing.

https://matcha-jp.com/en/1696

https://www.byfood.com/blog/culture/guide-to-konbini-japanese-convenience-stores

https://www.bokksu.com/blogs/news/a...wySxn83FRsKlSumDxCkVSqDa81wwhKnF5uPn9bufjeZHy

Unlike those here, it's not just convenience that makes them attractive, they're clean and not a "last resort" kind of thing, but woven into daily life.

IOW, not like miniaturized versions of Walmart, and its shopping experience (cough).
 
What's interesting to me is that if this were to go through, it could create a near monopoly of gas stations in many areas of the US, and situations like this is exactly why the term Monopoly even exists in the first place.

The difference is that neither of these companies are US companies, so would the United States have any power to do anything about it?

I don't normally follow this kind of stuff, so I honestly don't know.

The reason why Panasonic sold off their NiMH battery business to FDK-Fujitsu was because of antitrust concerns from the US and China.
 
Convenience stores play a much larger role in Asia, and offer not just food/snacks, but other goods and services, like package shipping/pickup, postal services, and that type of thing.

https://matcha-jp.com/en/1696

https://www.byfood.com/blog/culture/guide-to-konbini-japanese-convenience-stores

https://www.bokksu.com/blogs/news/a...wySxn83FRsKlSumDxCkVSqDa81wwhKnF5uPn9bufjeZHy

Unlike those here, it's not just convenience that makes them attractive, they're clean and not a "last resort" kind of thing, but woven into daily life.

IOW, not like miniaturized versions of Walmart, and its shopping experience (cough).

Heck - Taiwan has about 2/3 the number of 7-Eleven stores as in the entire United States. There are about twice the number of stores in Japan compared to the US. Obviously the US is a small part of their business.

I will say that I had a Slurpee at a 7-Eleven in Thailand, and it was just like one in the US.
 
Thanks for posting. I wasn't aware of who owned whom. It explains why I refuse to step foot in 7-Eleven or Circle K, every one I have seen is a dump. Also explains how last time I was in the Midwest Holiday stores have turned dumpy also.

Here's hoping Quick Trip doesn't sell out.
 
The difference is that neither of these companies are US companies, so would the United States have any power to do anything about it?
The answer is yes, the FTC can regulate businesses that operate in the US irrelevant of who owns them.

However given that most 7-Eleven and Circle K stores are franchisees, its doubtful any anti- competitive stance would stick, because in theory they compete amongst themselves at a local level anyway.
 
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