BANGOR — Dead River Co. is getting out of the convenience store business and selling its Maine stores to the Circle K convenience store chain.

Dead River officials say the company is selling its convenience stores to focus on its core business of selling heating fuels.

Circle K is owned by Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., a Canadian company that operates nearly 5,800 convenience stores.

The sale and switchover of Dead River’s 19 stores, which stretch from Brunswick to Caribou, is expected to be completed in December.