Circle K hoping to donate five million meals to food banks

June 18, 2020, Laval, Que. – Circle K, a subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard, has committed to donating a portion of its revenues from fuel transactions to Food Banks Canada.

Across Canada, consumers who choose their local Circle K stores – or Couche-Tard stores in Québec – to purchase fuel will be supporting their local food banks. The company invites Canadians to fill up at Circle K locations, to help it reach or even surpass its objective of donating the equivalent of five million meals.

This initiative follows on the heels of earlier support to essential workers during the pandemic, including free coffee and tea for healthcare workers and first responders and Circle K’s Little Thank Yous initiative.

Customers who fill up at any Circle K in Canada – or Couche-Tard stores in Québec – regardless of the affiliated fuel banner, will automatically see a portion of their purchase donated to Food Banks Canada over the next year, and this funding for food will be redistributed to support local food banks in the regions where the fuel transaction took place.

Customers will also be able to make individual donations in-store, with or without a fuel transaction, and these donations will be remitted directly to Food Banks Canada. The company set itself a goal of reaching the equivalent of five million meals, but the overall donation could be even more substantial if fuel sales are higher than anticipated over the next year.

“As an essential service, we have been on the frontline during the pandemic and witnessed the impacts of this unprecedented health crisis,” said Stéphane Trudel, senior vice president, operations, Alimentation Couche-Tard. “We have all been affected in one way or another by COVID-19, and at Circle K we believe that all Canadian families should be able to get the food they need. This partnership with Food Banks Canada is a way for us to pay it forward and support our communities in these difficult times.”

“These are hard times, and Canadians need to help each other,” said Chris Hatch, CEO, Food Banks Canada. “I am delighted that Circle K is helping in such a concrete way, to fight food insecurity, with this generous gift. Together, we can work towards our vision of a Canada where no one goes hungry.”