US-based health club operator Anytime Fitness has secured a franchising deal which could see up to 350 new clubs open in Australia and New Zealand within the next five years.
The company has agreed a master franchisee agreement with Justin McDonell and Jacinta McDonell Jimenez, who already have confirmed plans to open a minimum five clubs in the next year. The first club is set to open in Sydney later this year.
Under the agreement, the McDonells, a brother and sister team, will pay an undisclosed franchise fee as well as monthly royalties for each club they open.
Anytime Fitness co-founder Chuck Runyon said: "We're excited that Justin and Jacinta are joining our team.
"We had several candidates who applied for territory rights, but our choice was clear. Justin and Jacinta demonstrated the industry expertise, the financial backing and the passion for Anytime Fitness' business model that made them the most qualified applicants."
Anytime Fitness currently has 800 clubs open in the US, plus another handful of clubs in Canada. The Australian clubs will be the first Anytime Fitness centers to open outside of North America.