The Marché Express banner (named On the Run in English Canada and in the U.S.) consists of 100 corporate service stations in Quebec affiliated with Esso and owned by Imperial Oil as of the Fall of 2016. That’s when it sold its distribution network in several pieces to various retail chains across Canada (source: Radio-Canada).
For example, 50 service stations were sold to Alimentation Couche-Tard in the Montreal area, all of which are top-quality sites, and most of which have Tim Hortons and/or car washes. The Marché Express banners of these stations have quickly been replaced by the Couche-Tard banner.
Another group of 36 stations went to Harnois Groupe Pétrolier, which seems to be keeping the Marché Express banner for now.
The remaining 14 stations are likely to be in the hands of Parkland Fuel Corporation, which also purchased the On the Run and Marché Express trademarks in Canada plus about 100 supply contracts across Ontario and Quebec (in the U.S., there are 300 convenience stores On the Run selling Mobil gas and these are owned and operated by Couche-Tard since 2009).
But even though Imperial Oil sold its entire retail and distribution network, it has secured its gas sales volume through long-term supply agreements.
The Marché Express and Esso gas offering almost always include a car wash. In addition, a partnership with Tim Hortons was concluded to open 175 restaurants within the On the Run / Marché Express network that also comprise Royal Bank ATMs. According to the company, this strategy of creating hubs of well-known brands is highly attractive to customers and is a proven winning formula (source: Ccentral.ca). Following the sale of its network, the company said:
“The Esso brand will not disappear, and the stations will be operated on a branded wholesaler basis, as is already the case with many of our stations across Canada (the branded wholesaler is the company that owns and operates the station and is supplied with fuel from Imperial Oil, owner of the Esso brand). It is the brand-name wholesaler that manages the current operations of the Esso stations and the traditional blue oval is here to stay.” – Imperial
Type of Franchise
The Marché Express service stations with Esso are operated under a concession model in which the franchisee owns the inventory while the franchisor owns gasoline, real estate, land and equipment. Both parties receive compensation through a system of sales commissions and rental fees.
Profil de la bannière
| Name: | Marché Express |
|---|---|
| Ranking (banners): | 29th sur 63 |
| Number of stores: | 53 |
| Branded Wholesalers: | Harnois Groupe Pétrolier Parkland Fuel Corporation |
| Description: | Esso gas station network with convenience store, restaurant and car wash |
| Type of Franchise: | Type B) Company-operated store / dealer-operated |
| Head Office: | Red Deer Alb. Saint-Thomas |
| Website: | Marché Express |