Circle K eliminating 90 positions across its North American network

Dive Brief:

Alimentation Couche-Tard is eliminating approximately 90 positions at Circle K convenience stores in North America, Chris Barnes, director of communications for Circle K, said in an emailed statement.
Circle K will move “certain accounting processes to a third-party provider” capable of doing that work with the latest tools and technology, Barnes said.
The layoffs will commence at the end of May 2023. Until then, Circle K will work to aid the affected employees in their career transition, Barnes said.

Dive Insight:

Barnes did not clarify which “accounting processes” Circle K will be transitioning to a third-party provider, nor did it clarify who said provider is.

Among the areas that will experience the layoffs is Circle K’s network in Columbus, Indiana, where it currently operates nine locations with three in development. Barnes did not mention which other locations will experience the layoffs.

Circle K’s latest move resembles — on a much smaller scale — 7-Eleven’s employee cutback in July 2021 in the aftermath of its $21 billion acquisition of c-store rival Speedway. The company cut nearly 900 corporate jobs from its support centers and field support operations in Irving, Texas and Enon, Ohio, about a year after the merger. The move was part of 7-Eleven’s “integration approach” as it assessed its post-merger structure, 7-Eleven said at the time.

In May 2021, Circle K launched a massive hiring initiative in the U.S., where it aimed to add 20,000 employees. Last week’s announcement of its staff cutbacks comes two months after Circle K experienced 1.3% merchandise and service same-store revenue losses throughout its network in Canada compared to the same period last year.

Over the next several months, Circle K will be inviting the affected employees to apply for other open roles in the company, as well as providing “outplacement assistance” and severance pay, Barnes said.

“We are committed to treating the valued team members affected by this decision with the utmost care, respect and gratitude for their dedication and commitment to our business,” he said.