MINNEAPOLIS — TBC Corp. figures prominently in the latest Franchise Times Top 200+ ranking of franchise systems, holding down two of the top five spots in the automotive repair category with its Midas International and Big O Tires businesses.
Jiffy Lube International Inc. is No. 1 in the magazine's auto repair category with systemwide sales of $1.62 billion generated by 1,087 U.S. franchised stores, according to the Franchise Times ranking.
Midas is a close No. 2 with $1.49 billion in systemwide sales, according to the magazine's estimate, while Big O Tires is No. 5 with $735 million in sales.
Mr. Transmission and Honest-1 Auto Care — Nos. 371 and 400 with sales of $65 million and $52 million, respectively — were singled out as the fastest-growing automotive-related franchise business in the U.S. with 18.2- and 15.7-percent growth in 2016 vs. 2015.
All but five of the 21 automotive companies in the Top 200+ boosted sales throughout 2016, according to the magazine's estimates.
In its summary of the automotive sector, Franchise Times said it's a time of massive change in the U.S. automotive industry, with near-record sales, an accelerating transition toward fully electric vehicles and continued consolidation where big-name brands gobble up mom-and-pop shops amid rising barriers to entry and education requirements.
The auto repair franchise systems in the ranking are:
Rank Company Sales Sites Growth %
- 72 Jiffy Lube 1,615.0 1,912 ---
- 78 Midas 1,485.0* 1,087 0.0%
- 95 Valvoline Instant Oil Change 930.8 1,076 ---
- 108 CARSTAR 746.4 235 ---
- 111 Big O Tires 735.0* 397 3.5%
- 135 Meineke Car Care 553.1 867 1.7%
- 140 MAACO 518.2 483 --
- 162 AAMCO Trans. 426.0 626 1.8%
- 219 1-800-Radiator 260.2 198 --
- 234 Christian Bros. 218.7 157 ---
- 265 Precision Tune Auto 172.0 81 -0.3%
- 288 Tuffy Tire & Auto 142.0 182 1.3%
- 322 RNR Tire Express 105.2 89 ---
- 371 Mr. Transmission 65.0 120 18.2%
- 400 Honest-1 Auto 52.0 61 15.7%
- 472 Cottman Total Auto Care 31.8 52 -9.2%
Franchise Times also included Snap-on Tools and Mighty Auto Parts among the overall ranking, at 71st and 295th with $1.67 billion in sales and 3,477 franchises and $130 million and 127 franchises, respectively.
The list represents an authoritative snapshot of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems, measured by a combination of voluntary reports and publicity available data.
RNR Tire Express President Larry Sutton said being on the list is "great validation of the hard work of our franchise owners and innovative company advances RNR has made this past year."