Take 5 Carolinas, the first franchisee in the Take 5 Oil Change system, and ClayCon Oil, the brand’s third franchisee, have announced that they are combining to form Founders Automotive Services Team (FAST): a unified quick-lube and automotive service operating platform that owns and operates 52 Take 5 Oil Change service centers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, and Colorado.

As shared in a recent press release, FAST will continue to operate as a Take 5 Oil Change franchisee. The combined platform has created the largest Take 5 Oil Change franchisee in the country by revenue.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, FAST is led by Brannan Lahoda, president and chief operating officer. Lahoda brings more than 10 years of experience operating automotive service platforms, including leading all North American company-owned operations for Take 5 Oil Change during its initial growth phase from 65 to 650 locations.

FAST has a defined plan for near-term growth initiatives, as well as a pipeline of new stores in development to position itself for continued expansion across its markets.

"Bringing Take 5 Carolinas and ClayCon together under FAST unites two teams that know how to develop and operate great locations," Lahoda said. "We share a deep commitment to the Take 5 Oil Change brand and its culture of customer service. Our fundamentals are strong and getting stronger. With one team and the right infrastructure in place, we are well-positioned to keep expanding for many years to come."