Crunch Fitness Expands to India with Plans for 75 New Gyms
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Crunch Fitness has signed a Master Franchise Agreement to establish at least 75 brick-and-mortar gyms in India, marking the brand’s continued international expansion. The move brings the U.S.-based gym franchise into the rapidly growing Indian fitness market, where demand for health and wellness services has increased in recent years.
The expansion will be led by Nikhil Kakkar, former Chief Operating Officer of Gold’s Gym India, and Dr. Umesh Kansal, CEO of several companies in the fitness, financial services, and apparel industries. Their partnership aims to develop Crunch Fitness locations throughout India, complementing the company’s existing Crunch+ digital fitness offering, which has been available online to Indian consumers for years.
“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 agreement follows a milestone year for Crunch Fitness, which celebrated its 35th anniversary, introduced a redesigned gym model called Crunch 3.0, and surpassed three million members across 500 locations worldwide. India will join Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Spain as part of the company’s global footprint.
Jim Rowley, Chief Executive Officer of Crunch Fitness, emphasized India’s potential as a fitness market. “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,” he said. “This expansion reflects our commitment to making fitness accessible, engaging, and fun for everyone, no matter where they are in the world.”
Chequan Lewis, President of Crunch Fitness, echoed the sentiment, stating, “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.”
Crunch Fitness plans to continue its international expansion beyond India in 2025, targeting markets with favorable economic and franchising conditions. The company was recently ranked #1 in the fitness category and #32 overall in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 ranking.
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