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WGSN Think Tank Consumer Forecast: Consumer Attitudes 2011

WGSN What’s In Store Visual Merchandising Analysis: VM Overview March 2010

Hall of Fame Biographies

Alain Bouchard

Alimentation Couche Tard

Alain Bouchard began his career at Perrette Dairy in 1968 as an interim store manager. He then became supervisor and district director until 1973. As district director, he supervised the opening of 80 stores and developed the Perrette network. From 1973 to 1976, Bouchard, while at Provigo, Provi-Soir division, then organised and supervised the opening of a further 70 Provi-Soir convenience stores. From 1976 to 1980, he operated a franchise in Saint-Jérôme and in 1980 opened the first Couche-Tard, now the largest convenience store operator in Canada with a network of over 2,000 stores in Canada as well as a considerable presence in the US.

However, this huge growth nearly never happened. In 1982, with just three stores, Bouchard went to his local banker to finance an acquisition for three more stores in Quebec, which would double the chain portfolio. He was turned down because the bank felt it would be too many stores to manage.

Bouchard turned to Richard Fortin, a long-time friend that worked in the banking industry, and financed the deal. Within a couple of years Fortin, Jacques D’Amours, vice president of administration, and Réal Plourde, executive vice president and chief operating officer, joined Bouchard as partners.

After establishing a leading position in Quebec, Couche- Tard expanded through internal growth and acquisitions in Ontario and Western Canada in 1997. In May 1997, Couche-Tard acquired from Provigo 245 Provi-Soir stores in Quebec and 50 Wink’s stores in Ontario and Western Canada.

In April 1999, Couche-Tard acquired 980 stores in Ontario and Western Canada operating under the Mac’s, Mike’s Mart and Becker’s banners through the acquisition of Silcorp. In 2001, Couche-Tard moved into the US market when it completed it purchased 172 stores under the Bigfoot banner in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. In August 2002, Couche-Tard acquired 287 stores from Dairy Mart, also located in the Midwest.

The following year in December 2003, Couche-Tard made its biggest move in the US market, acquiring the Circle K brand, which included 1,663 Circle K stores in 16 states and an additional 616 franchised and licensed units.

Through its various banners, the company sells fuel in 65% of its company-operated stores. The Canadian stores are located in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. The US stores are located in 28 states. The stores are primarily operated under the Couche-Tard and Mac’s trademarks in Canada and the Circle K trademark in the US.

In addition to the North American Couche-Tard network, there are approximately 3,500 Circle K licensed stores located in seven other regions worldwide (Japan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Guam, Macao and Mexico).

Bouchard remains at the helm of the company, which continues to expand aggressively, and he is currently a member of the boards of directors for Quebecor Inc and Atrium Biotechnologies. He is also involved in many fundraising campaigns.