CAA Expands Network Of Auto Repair Shops

CAA South Central Ontario is continuing the expansion of its network of CAA auto repair shops with the announcement of the purchase of six former Midas franchises, and the opening of two new locations in Scarborough and Peterborough, Ontario.

In mid-April, CAA South Central Area announced it had agreed to purchase six Midas franchises owned by Gord and Paul Buttinger located in Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford, Listowel, Milton and Georgetown. These Midas franchises have been in the Buttinger family for over 40 years.

Gord Buttinger says he and his family are happy with CAA taking over these six operations and that the company will be keeping all of the employees and staff at the operations, thereby helping with the transition and keeping the strong community and customer ties built over many years by the Buttingers. Three remaining shops in the Waterloo region and Guelph will still be owned by the Buttingers, but going under a new name.

Teddy Chien, chief financial officer and vice-president of business development with CAA South Central Ontario says these recent acquisitions and the opening of the new CAA Car Care Centre in Scarborough, Ontario is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reach out more directly to auto owners looking for high-quality maintenance and repair services for their vehicles. The goal over the next five years is to have some 50 such car care centres across the province. The company has hired Toronto-based Mercantile Mergers & Acquisition Corp. to help is find prospective shops that meet the company’s requirements. These would be shops that are highly-profitable, have some six bays, a solid community standing and are in locations that have a high concentration of CAA members, for example

“A number of years ago the CAA decided we needed to expand our core business,” says Warren Tom, chief operation officer with CAA South Central Ontario, who presided over the official opening of the Scarborough, Ont. car care centre. “We are currently focused on roadside assistance, travel and, of course, insurance.

“And we said to ourselves, ‘There’s got to be more services our members want.’ At the end of the day we said a natural extension of our brand would be anything that’s automotive.”