LAVAL, Quebec -- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. CEO Alain Bouchard could have gone on an acquisition spree during the recession. He has opted for discipline instead, according to a report by the Canwest News Service. Bouchard was ranked by The National Post as 155th among Canada's top company executives based on corporate performance.

Bouchard has spent the past three years acquiring "gas bar" (gas station) chains across North America. Ambition has been the hallmark of his strategy, said the report, and he now runs a network of almost 6,000 outlets, making it the biggest chain in Canada and second only to 7-Eleven in the United States.

WASHINGTON -- Along with the recession, stagnant wages and tax increases, Americans may have to deal with yet another nightmare: surging gasoline prices. Factors are lining up that could end up pushing gasoline prices back over $4 per gallon sometime next year, said a report by AOL DailyFinance.com.

Gasoline demand in 2009 has been comparatively low from taking 7.6 million Americans out of the workforce through layoffs, yet gasoline's price has gone up, not down. It has risen about 20 cents per gallon in the past month to a U.S. average price of $2.65 per gallon for unleaded regular, said the report, citing data compiled by gasbuddy.com. This is at a time when the nation is heading into December and the winter season, when gasoline demand historically has been at its lowest.

CHICAGO -- The Top 100 limited-service sandwich chains grew sales by 8.6% in 2008, to $20.3 billion, according to foodservice industry consulting firm Technomic. Gains were driven by industry leader Subway, with strong execution of its $5 foot-long promotion and value positioning resulting in a 17.1% increase in sales to $9.6 billion.

The Top 100 outperformed the limited-service sandwich industry as a whole, which posted sales of $22.6 billion systemwide, growing by 6.9%.