Alain Bouchard, Richard Fortin and Ral Plourde (left to right) of Couche-Tard group, announce the inquisition of 1,663 Circle K stores in the United States at a news conference in Montreal on Monday Oct. 6, 2003. The $1.1-billion purchase makes it the fourth-largest convenience store operator in North America with a total of 4,630 stores. (CP PHOTO/Francois Roy)