Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian parent company and global operator behind the Circle K convenience and fuel retail banner, plans to acquire Żabka Group, Poland’s largest convenience retailer, in a deal representing a total value of approximately $8.6 billion.
The massive acquisition expands the global footprint of one of the world’s largest fuel marketers. Couche-Tard currently operates nearly 17,300 stores worldwide, with approximately 13,200 of those sites dispensing motor fuel. For tank truck carriers and bulk fuel distributors, the transaction highlights Couche-Tard’s aggressive international growth strategy and the ongoing consolidation of retail fuel and convenience networks, which directly impacts regional fuel supply chains and rack-to-retail delivery demand.
“This is a transformational investment for Couche-Tard and an important milestone in our growth journey,” Alex Miller, president and CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard, said in a news release. “Żabka has built one of Europe’s most impressive convenience retail businesses, combining a powerful customer proposition with an entrepreneurial franchise model, a highly disciplined and proven operating platform, and a strong track record of growth.”
Under the voluntary tender offer initiated through its subsidiary Circle K Polska, Couche-Tard is offering PLN 32.00 (equivalent to $8.48) per share for all issued and outstanding shares of Żabka, according to the release. Based in Poznań, Poland, Żabka operates a network of more than 13,000 compact neighborhood convenience stores across Poland and Romania.
For Couche-Tard, the acquisition creates an immediate, scaled retail platform in Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, Żabka’s small-format stores will operate alongside Couche-Tard’s existing network of nearly 400 Circle K service stations that supply road transport fuels, food, and driver amenities.
“Today’s transaction marks the beginning of an entirely new and exciting chapter for Żabka Group,” said Tomasz Blicharski, the Żabka Group’s chief strategy and development officer, and incoming CEO. “Couche-Tard shares our commitment to innovation, convenience and customer-centricity and recognizes the strength of the brand, the franchise community and the team that have made Żabka one of Europe’s leading convenience platforms.”
