Dive Brief:
- Alimentation Couche-Tard is now accepting transportation tech company QuikQ’s fuel cards at 381 truck-accessible Circle K locations across the U.S., according to a Monday announcement.
- Card users have access to QuikQ’s complete purchase control function, real-time transaction and fuel consumption reporting, and 24/7 mobile and online support. The cards also authenticate fuel purchases via text messaging as an added layer of fraud protection.
- Circle K joins a growing group of c-store retailers that now offer QuikQ’s fuel cards, including Casey’s General Stores, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, TravelCenters of America, Allsup’s and Pilot.
Dive Insight:
Convenience store retailers are all-in on value deals this year as inflation continues to impact consumer spending. While food deals have stolen the value proposition spotlight in recent months, many c-store operators have quietly offered more ways for customers to also save at the pump.
Besides Circle K, Maverik, EG America and TravelCenters of America are among the retailers that have partnered with various tech companies for fuel and fleet deals so far this year. In March, QuikQ brought its fuel cards to the nearly 30-store Cash Magic Truck Plaza chain.
“We are always looking for ways to make life a little easier for our commercial customers and look forward to delivering a great experience for QuikQ cardholders, both at our pumps and with fast, friendly service in our stores,” Reno Øhlenschlæger, vice president of global B2B mobility and sales for Circle K, said in the announcement.
Through QuikQ’s Secure Swipe program, card users will receive an authorization text message after swiping their card but before pumping their gas, according to QuikQ’s website. Users must then confirm that they swiped their card at that pump before fueling up.
Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard operates more than 7,100 c-stores in the U.S. It is the second-largest c-store company in North America behind 7-Eleven.
