Anytime Fitness Expanding into Europe
Anytime Fitness, an international fitness club chain, recently announced its attainment of a master franchise agreement for the United Kingdom and Ireland, driving its expansion into Europe.
“This is groundbreaking news for Anytime Fitness and it represents an important first step in our European expansion strategy,” said John Kersh, VP of international development for Anytime Fitness.
The master franchisee group for the UK and Ireland includes several individuals with experience in the international fitness industry, and is led by: Justin McDonell, the Anytime Fitness master franchisee for Australia and New Zealand, and Andy Thompson, an independent retail planning consultant who founded and served as managing director for GeoBusiness Solutions in 2000 (acquired by Pitney Bowes in 2005).
“We hope to open the first Anytime Fitness club in the UK by the end of this summer,” Thompson said. “Our plan is to have 50 clubs operational by end of 2012.”
Membership fees at the UK clubs will likely be 25 - 35 pounds Sterling per month. Similar to Anytime Fitness clubs in the US, the gyms in the UK and Ireland will be approximately 4,000 square feet, feature a wide variety of cardio equipment and strength training machines, and be accessible to members 24 hours a day.
In addition to its 1,250 U.S. gyms, Anytime Fitness also has nearly 100 clubs open in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and India.
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