News: Mattiacio Group Becomes Ziebart’s Largest Franchisee with 17-Store Acquisition

What does it take to become the biggest player in a franchise system? The Mattiacio Group just answered that question with a strategic move that’s reshaping the automotive aftermarket landscape.

A Game-Changing Acquisition

The Mattiacio Group recently acquired 17 Ziebart stores from The Harris Group, making them the largest franchisee in Ziebart’s entire U.S. system. With this acquisition, they now operate 26 locations across New York, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida. But this isn’t just about numbers – it’s about understanding how successful franchise growth really works.

Think about the strategic thinking here. Instead of opening new locations one by one, The Mattiacio Group identified an opportunity to acquire established, profitable stores with existing customer bases and trained staff. That’s smart franchise expansion.

The Mattiacio Group: Building on Family Values

The Mattiacio story started in 1989 when Tony Mattiacio opened his first Ziebart location.

What makes their approach different? They’ve successfully transitioned from a single-owner operation to a multi-generational family business. Tony’s children – Mark, Zach, Ryan, and Meghan – all play leadership roles, with Tony recently passing ownership to the next generation while staying on as CEO.

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“We have always believed in the power of the Ziebart brand,” Tony Mattiacio explains.

This isn’t just corporate speak – it reflects a fundamental principle of successful franchise ownership: genuine belief in your brand’s value proposition.

The Smart Side of Succession Planning

Here’s where the story gets interesting from a business strategy perspective.

The Harris Group, led by Jim Harris since 2015, built 17 strong locations across Indianapolis and Dayton markets. When Harris decided to retire, instead of simply selling to the highest bidder, they structured a deal that protects their legacy.

Brandi Gehring, who worked her way up from Customer Service Representative to Chief Financial Officer over 20 years, was promoted to President. Five key Harris Group leaders – Gehring, Tim LeMasters, Darron Woodward, Ron Derksen, and John Mongaraz – became equity partners in the transition.

Why does this matter?

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It shows how experienced franchise operators like the Mattiacio Group think about succession. They don’t just cash out – they ensure continuity for employees, customers, and the brand itself.

What This Means for Franchise Investors

This acquisition by the Mattiacio Group highlights several key trends in franchise development:

Scale Creates Opportunity: The Mattiacio Group’s size now gives them significant leverage for operational efficiencies, bulk purchasing, and market expansion.

People-First Transitions Work: By keeping existing management and making them partners, they’re preserving institutional knowledge and maintaining service quality.

Brand Strength Drives Growth: Ziebart’s global leadership in vehicle appearance and protection services provides the foundation that makes these large-scale acquisitions possible.

As Thomas A. Wolfe, Ziebart’s President & CEO, notes: “The Mattiacio Group has long been a pillar of exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and brand advocacy within our system.” Read Press Release

The Bottom Line For Would-Be Franchisees

The Mattiacio Group’s success demonstrates that franchise ownership isn’t just about following a corporate playbook – it’s about building genuine business acumen within an established system. They’ve shown how to scale thoughtfully, transition generationally, and acquire strategically.

For those of you thinking about franchising, this story offers a roadmap: start strong, build systematically, and always think about the people who make your business work.

Visit www.ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities to learn more about joining the Ziebart system.

(Ziebart image courtesy of Ziebart website)