Sales revenues at U.S. fast lube facilities went up 18 percent from a year ago, according to National Oil & Lube News 2016 Tops in the Industry Rankings.
NOLN published its annual lists of the largest fast lube chains and other oil change providers in its March 2016 issue. Estimated industry sales for the largest fast lube chains amounted to $16.2 billion, up $2.5 billion from last years survey.
The survey includes fast lube chains as well as oil-change plus facilities that provide oil changes and some other types of auto maintenance services.
The 52 largest fast lube chains on this years list together operate 6,789 facilities, up from 53 such chains operating 6,736 facilities last year.
As of Feb. 29, 2016, Jiffy Lube stayed on top with 1,928 stores, unchanged from the prior year. Valvoline Instant Oil Change – which acquired Oil Can Henrys 89 stores in February 2016 -remained second with 960 stores, up 31 from 2015. The Oil Can Henrys acquisition was not complete in time to be included in Valvolines count, but should be reflected in the 2017 survey. The other largest fast lube chains included Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change (unchanged at 700 stores), Kwik Kar (remaining at 398 stores) and Valvoline Express Care, with (330 stores, up 15 stores).
Of the top 52 operating fast lube chains, 15 showed growth over last year. Other chains showing substantial growth included Take 5 Oil Change, which grew 63 percent by adding 25 stores, with plans to open 17 more in 2016. Lube Stop acquired The Grease Stop in Illinois to grow 35 percent, adding 13 stores, and plans to open 19 more before the end of this year.
Goodyear Tire & Service Network Outlets – considered an oil change-plus chain because activities other than oil changes generate most of its revenues – led the oil change-plus category with 2,594 U.S. stores, down less than a percent from 2015. Following in the category were Wal-Mart Auto Care Centers (2,538 stores, down less than 1 percent), TBC Corp. (2,330 stores, down 3 percent), Firestone Complete Auto Care (2,193 stores, down 1 percent) and Monro Muffler Brake & Service (1,026 stores, up 12 percent). TBC does business as Tire Kingdom, NTB, Merchants, Big O Tires, SpeedDee Oil Change and Midas.
North Florida Lubes topped NOLNs associated lube chains list of independent operators of branded facilities, with 66 Havoline Xpress Lube locations. Following were Pioneer Quick Lube (25 Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change locations), Fast Change Lube & Oil (20 Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change locations), Automasters of Asheboro (19 Valvoline Express Care locations) and Express Automotive Group (a combination of 18 Havoline Express Lube, Texas Oil Express and Kwik Kar facilities).
Mobil 1 Centers topped the list of U.S.-based lube chains ranked by number of foreign facilities, with 3,200, up from 2,800 in 2015. Following were Havoline Xpress Lube with 1,432 foreign facilities, TBC (Speedee, Big O and Midas Auto Service Exports) with 1,020, Wal-Mart Auto Care Centers (266) and Jiffy Lube (165).
To view or request the 2016 Tops in the Industry Rankings as well as its other industry studies, visit the NOLN Industry Studies web page.