MONTREAL – Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., which has made no secret of its plans to expand its operations in the U.S. Midwest, is negotiating to acquire Hudson, Ohio-based Dairy Mart Convenience Stores Inc., according to an unconfirmed report yesterday. While Dairy Mart President and CEO Greg Landry would neither confirm nor deny the negotiations were underway, he told CSP Daily News yesterday the company has not yet determined whether it plans to pursue a stand-alone reorganization plan or to sell its assets. Alimentation Couche-Tard CEO Alain Bouchard could not be reached for comment.

LONDON – Following an announcement by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies last week that standalone business units Shell Capital, Shell Internet Works and Shell Consumer have been consolidated into a single unit, Shell Capital yesterday confirmed it is exiting the convenience store lending business.

In an interview with CSP Daily News, company spokesperson Michael J. McGarry confirmed Shell Capital is exiting the business. "We are not initiating any new business now, but we are going to continue servicing…accounts that we currently have," he said.