One of the biggest franchisers in the auto after-market sector has teamed up with one of real estate's biggest franchisers in a new strategic alliance: Coldwell Banker Commercial (www.commercial.coldwellbanker.com) has been tapped by Meineke Discount Muffler Shops (www.meineke.com) as Meineke's preferred provider for corporate site selection.

In its partnership with Meineke, CB Commercial's Corporate Services Division will be analyze all potential real estate sites, handle all lease negotiations and provide consulting services for Meineke franchisees who utilize their services. The new alliance will likely be a very busy one. Presently, Meineke has more than 875 franchises throughout the United States, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean. Over the next several years, however, Meineke plans to expand to 2,000 locations.

RE Director: Pact Will Speed Process

The new alliance should speed the site selection process, explained Paul Baratta, Meineke Discount Muffler director of real estate.

"It is my belief that the average time it takes to find a location and eventually open a shop will be decreased with Coldwell Banker Commercial as our preferred vendor for site location," said Baratta. "I am excited about making the resources and experiences of the Coldwell Banker Commercial team available to our franchisees."

A CB Commercial conference was a key event in the decision to pick the company as a preferred provider, Baratta added. "The decision to move forward with Coldwell Banker Commercial was easy after meeting the franchisees and corporate staff at the company's 1999 Mid-Year Conference in Denver," Baratta explained. "The professionalism and enthusiasm that I found was refreshing and reminded me very much of the atmosphere at Meineke's annual conferences and convention. I look forward to a long and successful relationship with Coldwell Banker Commercial."

Commented Coldwell Banker Commercial President Jerry Anderson, "We are honored to have been selected as preferred provider for site selection for Meineke, one of the world's most recognizable brand names. Our goal will be to assist Meineke with their expansion plans by utilizing our extensive affiliate platform and market knowledge of all primary and secondary markets throughout the country."

Ramentol Will Head Account

Rick Ramentol, vice president of Corporate Services for Coldwell Banker Commercial will be responsible for administering the Meineke account on a national basis, Anderson added. Recognized as the largest discount muffler and brake franchise, Meineke franchises have served more than 40 million vehicles since the company's founding in 1972. Meineke Corp. is wholly owned by GKN plc, a British conglomerate with extensive presence in the auto after-market industry.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. is one of the largest franchisers of real estate brokerage firms. A subsidiary of Cendant Corp., Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. franchises nearly 3,000 independently owned and operated real estate offices, with more than 70,000 sales associates throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Israel, Mexico, and Singapore. Each office is independently owned and operated.