Fast Fitness Japan, Inc., headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, which directly operates and franchises Anytime Fitness as the master franchisee in Japan, announced it acquired Eighty-8 Health & Fitness, GmbH, obtaining master franchisee rights to Anytime Fitness in Germany.
Eighty-8 will continue to operate as a local subsidiary of Fast Fitness Japan as the master franchisee for Anytime Fitness in Germany.
In conjunction with the expansion of the Anytime Fitness business in Germany by Fast Fitness Japan, the company hired Florian Dermühl as managing director of the local subsidiary. Dermühl is reportedly well-versed in franchise management in Germany and is an experienced manager of fitness companies in Europe.
Looking ahead in Germany, Fast Fitness Japan will leverage Dermühl’s leadership combined with its expanding and operating branches in Japan to expand the Anytime Fitness business as it actively explores opportunities for overseas expansion.
Self Esteem Brands, LLC, the parent company of Anytime Fitness’ U.S. headquarters, has set the target of 10,000 clubs by 2030, up from the approximately 5,600 clubs globally as of February 2024.
Kiyoaki Yamabe, CEO and representative director of Fast Fitness Japan Inc., said, “We are delighted to have obtained master franchisee rights for Anytime Fitness in Germany, a market with a high fitness participation rate where we project a need for high added-value fitness gyms. The track record we have built opening and operating clubs in Japan has earned high marks, and I would like to extend my thanks to Self Esteem Brands, LLC, who offered strong support to help us obtain the master franchisee rights in Germany. We will continue to work closely with the headquarters in the United States to further accelerate the opening of new clubs in Germany as well as other countries.”
Image courtesy Anytime Fitness/Japan Times
