Anytime Fitness Celebrates Its 4,000th Gym In Shanghai, China
Posted: March 17, 2018 in Chains
Anytime Fitness
WOODBURY, MN – Anytime Fitness, one of the world’s fastest growing fitness center chains for 10 consecutive years, celebrated the opening of its 4,000th gym on March 16th in Shanghai, China. Additionally, after formalizing an agreement to open gyms in Morocco, Anytime Fitness will pursue plans to open at least one new gym in Antarctica, which would make it the first franchise in history with locations on all seven continents.
“Our mission is to ‘Improve the self-esteem of the world,'” said Chuck Runyon, the CEO and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. “It may sound like an audacious goal, but we’re very serious about it. We’ll soon have 4,000 gyms open in more than 30 countries on all seven continents. Each of those gyms supports a small community of like-minded individuals who are determined to enjoy healthier, happier and more active lifestyles. That’s what we mean by ‘Improving the self-esteem of the world.'”
Complete with a Chinese dragon dance and a ceremonial groundbreaking, the 4,000th gym celebration will take place at an Anytime Fitness gym currently under construction in Shanghai. Anytime Fitness is the first and only U.S.-based gym to have been granted a franchising license in China. Currently there are 11 Anytime Fitness gyms open and operating in China.
“We are based in community areas within walking distance of where people live and work and we reach out to people in a way that is non-intimidating, relatable and personable,” said Maurice Levine, the master franchisee for Anytime Fitness in China. “Less than 1% of the 1.4 billion people who live in China are members of a health club. We are poised to introduce high-quality health and fitness programs throughout the entire country.”
RECORD-SETTING GROWTH RATE
Inc.com recently referred to Anytime Fitness as “fastest-growing fitness franchise of all time.” Founded in 2002, it took Anytime Fitness just 16 years to reach 4,000 gyms. Only one other company has reached 4,000 franchised units faster. Subway did it in 15 years. And only a tiny percentage (.005%) of all franchises have 4,000 units. Additionally, according to FRANData, Anytime Fitness is just one of 15 franchisors located in 30 or more countries.
“We built the franchise by focusing on convenience, affordability and a friendly, supportive atmosphere,” said Runyon. “That will never change. But we’ve sustained and, in many areas, accelerated our growth by expanding our programming and benefits for members. Specifically, our new group training sessions and our mobile app – which serves as a personal trainer in your pocket – have been wildly popular and will contribute to our future growth.”
AFRICA FIRST AND THEN ANTARCTICA
Within the next few weeks, Anytime Fitness expects to formalize an agreement with master franchisees to open dozens of gyms in Morocco within five years. That entre into Africa means that the franchise will almost certainly have gyms open in 32 countries on six continents by the end of this year. Runyon’s next goal is to become the first franchise in history with locations open and operating on all seven continents.
“We’ve already begun exploring options for Antarctica,” he said. “It’s going to happen – and sooner than you might think.”
Total revenues for Anytime Fitness, its parent company, Self Esteem Brands, and its master franchisees are expected to top $2 Billion in 2018.
“Our purpose, very simply, is to help people get to a healthier place,” said Dave Mortensen, the president and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. “To help as many people as possible, we’re constantly striving to provide our franchisees with the support, the tools and the technology they need to best serve their members. We’ve been successful because we work hard, not merely to meet the ever-changing preferences of fitness consumers, but to anticipate them.”
