LAVAL, Quebec -- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has signed an agreement in principle to purchase a network of 12 stores from Bruce Miller Oil Co. in southeastern Indiana and the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Two of the dozen stores are fee-owned locations and two supply dealer accounts. Scheduled to close by the end of the month, this transaction will extend Couche-Tard's presence in Indiana and give it a foothold in the contiguous region of western Ohio.

As reported in CSP Daily News yesterday, Couche-Tard is also rumored to be pursuing a deal to acquire Hudson, Ohio-based Dairy Mart Convenience Stores Inc. as part of an aggressive growth plan in the Midwest. While company officials have not commented on Dairy Mart, Couche-Tard Chairman, President and CEO Alain Bouchard reiterated in a prepared statement yesterday that the company is "pursuing our expansion in the U.S. and remain on the lookout for any opportunity matching our growth objectives."

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Further details have emerged concerning Phillips Petroleum Co. running out of regular and premium unleaded gasoline at its main distribution terminal in the Phoenix, Ariz., area because of low inventories. As reported yesterday in CSP Daily News, the oil company said it was experiencing difficulties in switching over from winter-grade gasoline to summer-grade gasoline. Six stations in the Phoenix area ran out of fuel Wednesday.