Grease Monkey International, Inc. Announces Master Franchise
17 July 1998
Grease Monkey International, Inc. Announces Master Franchise Agreement for Mexico LocationsDENVER, July 16 -- Denver-based Grease Monkey International, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Mexico-based UNILUBE to handle the day-to-day operational, training and development activities for Grease Monkey centers in Republic of Mexico. Grease Monkey will continue to oversee all strategic planning and quality compliance from its International Support Center in Denver. "We are very pleased to finally have an effective national partner in Mexico," said Charles Steinbrueck, president and CEO of Grease Monkey International, Inc. "It brings a new level of quality execution to our Mexican franchise owners and adds new strength to our day-to-day operations there. A Master Franchisee in Mexico will allow us to devote our full operating energies to our important US markets." Grease Monkey opened its first location in Mexico in 1993 and currently has 21 franchise locations there. Nine more locations are scheduled to open by the end of 1998. Antonio Ramon and Victor Hinojosa, who have owned and operated individual Grease Monkey franchises in Mexico since 1994, formed UNILUBE to serve as the Master Franchise for Grease Monkey International in Mexico. "We are excited about this new partnership with Grease Monkey," said Ramon. "We strongly believe Grease Monkey can become the leading automotive preventive maintenance company in Mexico." Grease Monkey is one of the nation's largest franchisors of fast lube and oil change centers. With 212 centers in 31 states and Mexico, 32 of which are company-owned, Grease Monkey is the largest quick lube organization not owned by a major oil company. Grease Monkey International's parent company, Grease Monkey Holding Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: GMHC) is a publicly traded company.