Welcome to Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s (PC&D) 2018 Top 50 U.S. Conveyor Chain List. This annual list is an account of the nation’s largest conveyor carwash chains, based on the number of locations under the operator’s umbrella.
As mentioned in the previous article of this issue, many brands found on this year’s list are familiar names from previous years’ lists. Of course, there are a few new brands featured as well. Some of these newer brands may have had few or no sites last year but made the leap with a significant year of growth.
Some new carwash chains on the list are actually older brands flying under a new carwash chain brand name; for example, Moo Moo Express Car Wash, which placed 22nd on last year’s Top 50 list, is now part of Express Wash Concepts, which also includes Flying Ace Express Car Wash and Clean Express Auto Wash, thus moving up to slot 18 on this year’s list.
However, all of these conveyor carwash chains have an interesting story. In addition to reviewing the list this year, we recommend that our readers visit the chains’ websites, read their stories and review their marketing, photos, customer service elements and other key business differentiators that have helped separate these operators from the pack.
Again, we would like to thank everyone who took the time this year to help us compile this research. Now, we move on to the list, starting with a familiar entry ….
1. Mister Car Wash
Tucson, AZ
www.mistercarwash.com
264 locations
The Mister Car Wash brand is anchored in quality, friendliness and its commitment to creating memorable customer experiences. Mister Car Wash’s people are what make it successful and allow it to achieve these high standards. The company continues to focus on recruiting and retaining top talent, developing best-in-class training programs and investing in employee benefits to cultivate a positive company culture. The Mister Car Wash brand is about inspiring potential and giving both its employees and customers the motivation to be their best.
2. Zips Car Wash
Little Rock, AR
www.zipscarwash.com
140 locations
Zips is revolutionizing the carwash industry by building a team of extraordinary people and bringing them together to work in a unique, high-performance culture. Within the communities it serves, it is heavily invested in its customers, their families and their interests, like local schools and community organizations. And, it’s reaching beyond just washing cars by creating an environment to grow its team members into industry leaders at its stores across the country. This is what it calls the Zips Way.
3. International Car Wash Group (ICWG)
Centennial, CO
www.icwg.com
134 locations
Founded in 1965, ICWG is the world’s largest conveyor carwash company, currently operating in 16 countries around the globe and washing more than 40 million cars every year through a network of more than 900 locations. ICWG operates under the IMO banner in Europe and Asia-Pacific. In the U.S., ICWG operates under the banners of Car Wash USA Express, Goo-Goo Express Wash, Car Wash Express and Supersonic Car Wash. ICWG is committed to delivering consistent wash quality for the customer while minimizing the impact on the environment.
4. Autobell Car Wash
Charlotte, NC
www.autobell.com
81 locations
Celebrating 50 years of customer service in 2019, Autobell® Car Wash was founded in 1969 in Charlotte by the late Charles Howard Sr. and remains privately held and operated by subsequent generations of the Howard family. Now operating in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland with consistent expansion, Autobell continues its commitment to customer focus, environmental protection and conservation, employee training and development, community relations and charitable support.
5. Quick Quack Car Wash
Roseville, CA
www.dontdrivedirty.com
74 locations
Founded in 2004 in Sacramento, California, Quick Quack Car Wash is a fast-growing chain of exterior-only, express carwash locations in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Colorado. Quick Quack is regularly recognized for its community-building efforts as well as its environmentally friendly business practices. In addition to a big yellow mascot duck named “Quackals,” Quick Quack is best known for free, self-service vacuums and unlimited carwash memberships. Don’t Drive Dirty!™
|
Ranking |
Organization name |
City |
State |
URL |
No. of |
|
6 |
Wash Depot Holdings Inc. |
Malden |
MA |
49 |
|
|
7 |
True Blue Car Wash |
Scottsdale |
AZ |
48 |
|
|
8 |
Raceway Express Car Wash |
Phoenix |
AZ |
35 |
|
|
9 |
Golden Nozzle Car Wash |
Springfield |
MA |
34 |
|
|
10 |
Crew Carwash |
Indianapolis |
IN |
31 |
|
|
11 |
Delta Sonic Terrible Herbst |
Buffalo Las Vegas |
NY NV |
29 29 |
|
|
12 |
Brown Bear Car Wash The Wash Tub |
Seattle San Antonio |
WA TX |
26 26 |
|
|
13 |
Mike’s Carwash Russell Speeder’s Car Wash Sam’s Xpress Car Wash |
Loveland Norwalk Matthews |
OH CT NC |
23 23 23 |
|
|
14 |
BlueWave Express Mammoth Holdings Tidal Wave Auto Spa Waterway® Carwash |
San Rafael Atlanta Atlanta St. Louis |
CA GA GA MO |
22 22 22 22 |
|
|
15 |
Cobblestone Auto Spa |
Phoenix |
AZ |
21 |
|
|
16 |
Fuller’s Carwash Prime Shine Car Wash Super Star Car Wash |
Hinsdale Modesto Chandler |
IL CA AZ |
20 20 20 |
|
|
17 |
Kaady Car Wash ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers Splash Car Wash |
Portland Natick Greenwich |
OR MA CT |
18 18 18 |
|
|
18 |
Express Wash Concepts Washman Car Washes |
Etna Portland |
OH OR |
17 17 |
|
|
19 |
Car Spa Fast Eddie’s Car Wash & Oil Change Hoffman Car Wash |
Dallas Swartz Creek Albany |
TX MI NY |
16 16 16 |
|
|
20 |
Frank’s Car Wash Rich’s Car Wash Surf Thru Express Car Wash |
Columbia Saraland Bakersfield |
SC AL CA |
15 15 15 |
|
|
21 |
Francis & Sons Car Wash |
Phoenix |
AZ |
14 |
|
|
22 |
Tiger Express Wash |
Columbia |
MO |
13 |
|
|
23 |
Shammy Shine |
Milford |
NJ |
12 |
|
|
24 |
Fast5xpress Jacksons Car Wash Quick N Clean Scrub-a-Dub Soapy Joe’s Car Wash Wash Masters Car Wash |
Irvine Scottsdale Scottsdale Milwaukee San Diego Irving |
CA AZ AZ WI CA TX |
11 11 11 11 11 11 |
|
|
25 |
Haffner’s Mr. Clean Car Wash Mr. Sparkle Car Wash Super Shine Auto Wash Centers Ultimate Shine Car Wash |
Lawrence Norcross South Windsor Braintree Morristown |
MA GA CT MA TN |
10 10 10 10 10 |
Editor’s note: The information provided in the 2018 Top 50 list was compiled based on last year’s list, submissions, internal research conducted with our team and our industry partners and by investigating carwashes’ websites. Carwashes included in this year’s list may or may not have been confirmed by their owners in 2018. If you believe your conveyor carwash chain should be included in Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s annual Top 50 list, make sure to be on the lookout for the 2019 Top 50 submission request, or email Editorial Director Rich DiPaolo at [email protected] for more information.
