COUCHE-TARD ACQUIRES TABATOUT
By Adnews Staff
Alimentation Couche-Tard of Laval, PQ is acquiring Tabatout, based in Verdun, PQ, for $2.5 million. Tabatout operates 30 newsstand format stores in Quebec. This is the convenience store company's first acquisition of "non-traditional" stores. According to Stephane Gonthier, Couche-Tard's vice-president of operations for eastern Quebec, non-traditional stores are defined by the size and type of products they sell. These stores are smaller in square footage and sell only single serving beverages and foods. The Tabatout stores are located in shopping centres and office buildings in the province. For the time being they will continue to operate under the Tabatout name. Prior to this purchase Couche-Tard owned only two non-traditional stores, one at the Calgary airport and one in Longueil, PQ.