Couche-Tard Aims for Further U.S. Expansion with Potential Acquisition of 7-Eleven and AI Demand Fuels AppDirect to Expand Energy Brokerage Footprint
Couche-Tard Remains Focused on Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy and AppDirect Positions Itself for Profit Amid Rising Power Demand
Couche-Tard Eyes $47B Deal for 7-Eleven Parent Company
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., based in Laval, Quebec, and one of the world’s largest convenience retailers, is aiming to further expand its global footprint through a proposed $47 billion USD acquisition of Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japanese parent company of 7-Eleven. This move aligns with Couche-Tard's long-standing strategy of expanding its global footprint through mergers and acquisitions. The company already operates in 29 countries and territories under brands such as Circle K.
To advance the deal, Couche-Tard has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Seven & i Holdings and assembled a portfolio of U.S. stores it would consider selling to address regulatory concerns. Executives say the recent process they’ve adopted has helped accelerate negotiations. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. CEO Alex Miller has reaffirmed that mergers and acquisitions remain a core focus, a strategy that has been significant in the company’s global growth. At the same time, the company continues to prioritize enhancing customer experience, expanding food offerings, and driving overall sales performance.
AppDirect Makes Second Energy Brokerage Acquisition of 2025
AppDirect, a Canadian-founded software firm headquartered in San Francisco, has completed its second energy brokerage acquisition of 2025 with the purchase of Quebec-based DNE Resources. This deal follows its May acquisition of U.S.-based Broker Online Exchange (BOX), underscoring the company’s strategic push into deregulated energy markets like Alberta and Ontario. AppDirect is positioning itself to profit from rising power demand, particularly in the B2B space.
These deals come during a global shift in energy markets, driven by the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure. CEO Nicolas Desmarais expects AI infrastructure to drive a 160% increase in global power demand by 2030, with the potential to consume up to 4% of the world's energy.
Following the acquisition, DNE Resources will continue to operate under its existing brand, giving customers access to AppDirect’s suite of services, including BOX’s My Service Cloud platform. Both acquisitions were backed by a $100-million credit facility from La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, a long-time investor in AppDirect. With this momentum, the company expects to surpass $1 billion USD in gross revenue within the next two years.
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