Crunch Fitness Announces Major Franchise Expansion into India, Marking South Asian Physical Location Debut
Posted: February 26, 2025 in Chains
Crunch
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Crunch Fitness, a globally-recognized high-value, multi-amenity gym franchise, announces the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement for India, a development which will bring a minimum of 75 Crunch Fitness brick-and-mortar gyms to the country in the coming years.
The new development marks the brand’s continued international expansion into South Asia alongside Crunch+, the company’s extensive fitness offering, which has been available online for years to Indian consumers.
The Indian development will be led by Nikhil Kakkar, former COO of Gold’s Gym India, and business partner Dr. Umesh Kansal, M.D., CEO of several well-established companies in the fitness industry, financial services and global apparel business.
“This is an exciting time of expansion for Crunch, and with the Indian fitness market rapidly growing, we saw this as a natural next step in our international rollout,” said John Kersh, Managing Director of International Development for Crunch Fitness. “We believe Nikhil and Umesh will be outstanding partners for the brand’s expanded presence in India, and we are excited for Crunch Fitness to play an influential role in India’s fitness franchise development.”
The expansion follows a milestone year for Crunch Fitness, when the company celebrated its 35th anniversary; launched Crunch 3.0, an innovative new gym design; hit the three-million-member mark; and increased its franchise footprint to 500 gyms worldwide. India joins the ongoing list of international markets for Crunch with its presence already in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Spain.
“We look forward to bringing the Crunch experience to India, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion,” said Jim Rowley, Chief Executive Officer of Crunch Fitness. “India is a vibrant and dynamic market with a growing passion for fitness, and we are excited to introduce our first physical location with our unique blend of world-class amenities, innovative classes, and inclusive community to this incredible country. This expansion reflects our commitment to making fitness accessible, engaging, and fun for everyone, no matter where they are in the world.”
“We are elated to take a bold new step in our international franchising with the introduction of the brick-and-mortar Crunch experience to India,” said Chequan Lewis, President of Crunch Fitness. “As one of the fastest-growing fitness markets in the world, India has a rising demand for quality fitness solutions, and we are thrilled to launch our ‘No Judgments’ clubs in the country.”
Throughout 2025, Crunch will continue to target expansion countries that have positive economic and franchising conditions, as well as significant growth opportunities. As a result of the brand’s efforts, Crunch Fitness was ranked #1 in the fitness category for the second year in a row and #32 overall in the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® – the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking.
