Meineke Car Care Center
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive repair |
| Founded | 1972 (Sam Meineke) |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Products | Automotive repair, mufflers |
| Parent | Driven Brands |
| Website | www.meineke.com |
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2011) |
Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. ("mine-a-key") is a franchise-based automotive repair chain.
In 1971 in Houston, Texas, Sam Meineke opened a distribution warehouse and his first Meineke Mufflers shop (aka #1) in Pasadena, Texas along with five more in quick succession. In 1972 Harold Nedell joined Meineke to begin franchising and the Meineke Discount Mufflers franchise was born with a single product line, mufflers. During the next ten years over 600 franchises were sold when in 1983 Meineke Discount Mufflers was bought by GKN, a multinational British company. In 1986 the company headquarters moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. In July 2003 Meineke was the subject of a stock purchase agreement for its acquisition by members of Meineke management and two financial partners, Carousel Capital, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and The Halifax Group, based in Washington, DC and Dallas, Texas, from its then owner Brambles.
From 1972 to 2003, it was known as Meineke Discount Muffler Shops, Inc.. Earlier in 2003 Meineke Discount Muffler Shops, Inc., became Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. In 2006, the parent company became Driven Brands, Inc. and acquired the quick oil change company Econo Lube 'N Tune Inc. There are five companies under the Driven Brands umbrella: Meineke Car Care Center, Maaco, Econo Lube 'N Tune, Aero Colours, and Tortal. Driven Brands bought Maaco in October, 2008 from the estate of Tony Martino, the founder and CEO of the Maaco chain at the time of his death on January 27, 2008.
There are approximately 900 Meineke franchises throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia and the Caribbean. Meineke franchisees have serviced more than 50,000,000 vehicles since starting out in 1972. Meineke's top-performing franchises receive the Top Gun award. Charles J. Bonfiglio's Meineke franchise in Weston, Florida, was Meineke's highest grossing franchise of the past four years, yielding revenues of $2 million a year from 2006 to 2009 and earning the first and only $2 million Shop Award.
George Foreman has been the Meineke spokesperson since 1993.
