Heartland Jiffy Lube Acquires 18 Shops in Pacific Northwest

Heartland Automotive Services, Inc., the nation’s largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, has expanded into a new market with its acquisition of 18 locations in the Spokane, Washington, area and nearby communities in Idaho and Oregon. 

Last month, the company completed the purchase of 15 locations from Tri-Cities Fast Lube, Inc. and three locations from Tuber Luber ownership groups.

“Building on Jiffy Lube Heartland’s strong footprint in the Washington state area, this acquisition allows us to grow our presence in this region to more than 100 locations,” said Brett Ponton, CEO of Jiffy Lube Heartland.

The new Washington locations include eight in Spokane, two in Kennewick and one each in Clarkston, Veradale, Richland, Pasco and Walla Walla. There are also two new locations in Lewiston, Idaho, and one in Hermiston, Oregon.

As we first reported last year on our Lube News Blog, Tri-Cities Fast Lubes, a Jiffy Lube franchisee, filed for bankruptcy in January 2011 in order to “restructure its financial affairs and resolve financial differences with its franchisor and major oil supplier,” according to a press release sent out last summer. At the time of its bankruptcy announcement, Tri-Cities operated 16 Jiffy Lube locations.

During the past several months, Jiffy Lube Heartland has embarked on an aggressive acquisition strategy, purchasing Jiffy Lube and other fast lube locations in New York, Texas and both coasts. Facilities that were not branded Jiffy Lubes were expected to be converted as part of the acquisition process. In 2011, Jiffy Lube Heartland’s strategic acquisitions saw its total number of locations nationwide grow by more than 16 percent. The company now operates more than 470 Jiffy Lube locations, employs nearly 3,900 fast lube professionals and serves nearly four million customers each year.

“Our vision is to be trusted by consumers and recognized by our peers as the best place for quick, professional vehicle care within the neighborhoods we serve,” said Ponton.