Circle K has become one of the most widely recognized convenience store brands, known worldwide for quality products and great customer service. Founded in 1951 in El Paso, Texas, the company is owned and operated by the Canada-based Alimentation Couche-Tard, the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of company-operated stores. Tucson is the second largest metropolitan area in Arizona with just over one million residents and serves as an anchor to businesses located in the Southern Arizona corridor.