Fitness First plans to make Hyderabad fit

Fitness First, the global health club chain operator, plans to invest about about Rs. 172 crores in the next three years for opening of 15-20 such clubs in India. UK-based Fitness First, which operates 500 health clubs in 17 nations, will be entering India.

Fitness First, which is owned by BC partners - a leading European private equity house, has raised about 80 million pounds for growth in the existing and new markets.

The company would be opening fitness club this year are Delhi and Mumbai, he said, adding Pune, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and entire North-India are on the company's radar. The said the company wanted to build more clubs but the biggest constraint was the cost of the real estate.

Fitness First, which posted a revenue of Rs 4,600 crores and profit of Rs 900 crores in 2006, would be recruiting 50 employees per club in India, which means that the company would add 1,000 headcounts in the next 2-3 years, he said.

Source: The Hindu