CARSTAR renews first franchise owners for another 20 years

Auto repair company CARSTAR has renewed its first ever franchise relationships for another 20 years, the Hamilton, Ont.-based company announced Oct. 12.

During the 1980s, both Domenic Lucarelli and Sam Saputo were employees of CARSTAR president and CEO Sam Mercanti, who recognized their talent for the industry.

In June 1992, the two opened the company’s first franchises in Stoney Creek, Ont. and Ancaster, Ont. Their wives, Rosanna Lucarelli and Rosa Saputo, were also critical to the franchises’ development.

This September, Lucarelli and Saputo renewed their agreements with CARSTAR for another two decades. The two locations have sales of more than $2 million, according to CARSTAR.

Now, Saputo’s two son’s Paul and Joe will take over CARSTAR Ancaster, while Lucarelli will eventually pass his Stoney Creek business to his son Joseph.

“We are really looking forward to working with both generations of owners and maintaining the great reputations that they have earned over the years,” Lisa Mercanti-Ladd, CARSTAR’s vice president of marketing and client services noted. “These families have worked to stay ahead of the future needs of customers and insurance partners and share in our values of integrity and loyalty. We are truly excited for our future development.”

CARSTAR’s franchise network now includes more than 160 locations in Canada, and more than 400 throughout North America.