Mattiacio Group Becomes Ziebart's Largest Franchisee

Ziebart's largest ownership change in years put 17 additional stores under one family operator. The Mattiacio Group acquired the locations from the retiring Harris Group, reaching 26 stores across New York, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida and becoming the biggest franchisee in Ziebart's U.S. system. The deal also kept five Harris operators in the business as equity partners.

Succession Drove the Deal

Jim Harris built 17 stores, mostly around Indianapolis and Dayton, and chose to retire rather than sell to an outside buyer. Handing the stores to an established Ziebart operator preserved brand standards and local management instead of risking a transfer to someone new to the system. For franchisors, an in-network buyer is usually the cleanest succession outcome.

The Equity Partner Structure

Rather than cashing out the Harris team entirely, the deal brought five of its members in as equity partners in the combined operation. That structure retains operating knowledge and local relationships that would otherwise walk out the door at closing. It also gives the seller's managers upside in the larger entity, aligning everyone on performance after the handoff.

Why Scale Matters in Auto Services

Auto appearance and protection services run on labor, equipment, and supply contracts that get cheaper per unit as a franchisee adds stores. Reaching 26 locations gives the Mattiacio Group purchasing leverage and the ability to move managers and technicians across markets. That density is the practical reason multi-unit operators keep consolidating service brands.