MINNEAPOLIS — For the second year running, Jiffy Lube, Midas International and Valvoline Instant Oil Change claimed the top three spots on Franchise Times' Top 200+ ranking of franchise systems, automotive category.
Jiffy Lube International Inc. was ranked No. 1 in the magazine's auto repair category with systemwide sales of $1.7 billion generated by 1,919 U.S. franchised stores, according to Franchise Times' ranking. Jiffy Lube was 75th overall on the list of franchise programs, unchanged from 2018.
Midas is No. 2 in the automotive category (and 81st overall) with systemwide sales of just over $1.5 billion and 1,050 U.S. outlets, according to the magazine's estimate, while Valvoline Instant Oil Change was No. 3 (and 91st overall) with revenue of $1.17 billion and 1,198 locations.
Big O Tires was No. 6 in the automotive category (and No. 106 overall) with estimated sales of $846.5 million and 458 locations.
Big O, Midas and Tuffy Tire & Auto Service (16th among auto franchises and 286th overall) were singled out as the fastest-growing auto service-related franchise programs over the past year. The magazine pegged Big O's and Tuffy's sales growth at 7.2% and 3.6%, respectively.
Otherwise automotive repair franchise sector generated little in the way of business growth, with only AAMCO Transmissions, Meineke Car Care, Midas and Mr. Transmission registering growth.
Overall, the magazine pointed out the health/medical and personal services categories exhibited the fastest growth, at 14.5% and 14.3%, respectively.
The leading oil change franchises, by contrast, recorded measurable growth — Grease Monkey up 12.5%, Valvoline Instant Oil Change up 9.9%, SpeeDee Oil Change up 7.5% and Jiffy Lube up 3.3%.
The auto repair franchise systems in the ranking are:
Franchise Rank Sales U.S. outlets
• Jiffy Lube 75 $1,700M 1,919
• Midas Intl. 81 $1,505M 1,050
• Big O Tires 106 $ 847M 458
• Meineke Car 141 $ 538M 759
• AAMCO 176 $ 414M 605
• Christian Bros. 216 $ 275M 173
• RNR Tire 271 $ 163M 118
• Tuffy Tire 286 $ 143M 174
Franchise Times said its annual ranking of the largest franchise systems in the U.S. is based on a five-month research process that looks at companies' voluntary reports and publicly available data, including the franchises' most recent franchise disclosure documents and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.