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Over the past 28 years Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has grown from a humble, one-store operation in Laval, Que. to North America's second-largest convenience store chain.

Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD.B), which literally means 'go to bed late' in French, is the largest convenience store operator in Canada with a network of more than 3,000 stores.

The Quebec-based company has a significant presence in the United States as well, with 3,000 additional stores. More than 3,600 of the stores in North America are company-operated, while the other 1,400 are run under the affiliate program.

Roughly 65 per cent of company-owned stores sell fuel.

Prior to the announcement of its partnership with Saint John-based Irving Oil, Couche-Tard had stores in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, but did not have a presence in Atlantic Canada.

Under the terms of the Irving Oil deal, Couche-Tard will lease and run 128 stores in Atlantic Canada and 124 stores in New England. Irving Oil will supply the fuel. The gas pumps will retain the Irving brand while the stores will take on a Couche-Tard brand.

In Canada, the stores primarily operate under the Couche-Tard and Mac's brands, while in the U.S. they operate under the Circle K trademark.

In addition to its North American network, Couche-Tard has roughly 3,500 Circle K licensed stores in Japan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Guam, Macao and Mexico.

The Laval company recorded more than $12 billion in revenues last year.

7-Eleven Inc. is the world's largest convenience store chain with more than 31,000 company-owned and affiliated stores around the world.