SGB Update Sports & Fitness
Fitness Ventures Opens 60th Crunch Fitness Location
Crunch Fitness’ second largest franchisee opened its 60th Crunch Fitness location with a 60,000-square-foot facility in Des Moines, IA. Fitness Ventures reports it is on pace to reach 75 open clubs by the end of 2025.
Jetset Pilates to Open 12 Franchise Studios In Philadelphia Region
The Miami-based reformer Pilates franchise officially signed a 12-unit agreement to open locations in the Greater Philadelphia area. It currently has plans to open studios across the U.S. and Australia, with over 100 studios in development.
Crunch Fitness Franchise to Open in Pearland, Texas
Crunch franchisee Tony Hartle announced plans to open a 30,000-square-foot Crunch gym in Pearland, TX, this coming fall.
Nike Virtual Studios Vice President Exits
Ron Faris, who served as vice president and general manager of Nike Virtual Studios, has joined Disney Consumer Products as VP of global marketing.
Report: Back-to-School Spending to Surge 17 Percent, Shopping Starts Earlier
JLL’s 2025 Back-to-School survey of 1,010 parents found a 17.3 percent increase in planned spending this year, with respondents shifting toward in-store shopping while adopting earlier purchasing patterns and becoming more sensitive to higher prices.
Health & Fitness Association Sets New Board
Luke Carlson, founder and CEO of Discover Strength, becomes The Health & Fitness Association (HFA’s) new chairman. Al Noshirvani, managing partner of ALTA Technology Group and owner of Method Gym, acts as vice chair; Ahmar Azam, CEO and founder of TriFit, as finance chair; and Jeff Sanders, chief growth officer and partner of Energy Fitness, as secretary.
Uvex Group Sold to PE Firm
The German maker of helmets and goggles for ski, cycling and equestrian purposes announced that Warburg Pincus will acquire a majority interest in the company. The owner families Winter and Grau will retain a significant minority stake and be actively involved in the future growth of the business.
Pinarello Establishes New Subsidiary In Shanghai
The Italian manufacturer of road bikes, accessories and apparel announced the opening of its new subsidiary in Shanghai, enabling the company to directly manage its operations in the Chinese market.
Interactive Strength Completes Wattbike Acquisition
The owner of the CLMBR and FORME specialty fitness equipment brands and pending acquirer of Sportstech has completed its previously announced all-stock acquisition of Wattbike.
Champs Sports Reopens Tampa and Portland Stores with “Reimagined” Concept
The Tampa and Portland stores are located in “dynamic markets, making them ideal locations to unveil a new store experience that reflects our brand ethos. —Tony Aversa, senior vice president and general manager of Champs Sports
Altri Acquires Majority Stake in Fiber Specialist AeoniQ
Portuguese fiber producer Altri SGPS S.A. has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Swiss clean technology company AeoniQ to support the commercial-scale development of a biodegradable cellulose-based filament designed to replace polyester and nylon.
Cascale Appoints Former Nike Senior Exec as Interim CEO
Harsh Saini, who currently serves on Cascale’s Board of Directors, will lead the non-profit in advancing its key 2025 strategic priorities while it continues its global search for a permanent CEO.
Revelyst Appoints Innovation Chief at Precision Sports Technology
A longtime R&D executive with experience at Boeing, Callaway Golf, and Cobra Golf, Mike Yagley reportedly brings critical technical expertise to Revelyst’s golf brands as the company seeks to differentiate itself from the field through product innovation.
Perfect Moment Raises $3M in Stock Sale
The London-based skiwear and activewear company reported that it sold 10 million shares for $0.30 a share. In addition, the company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.5 million shares to cover over-allotments
Report: Back-to-School Expected to Benefit from ‘Resilient’ Consumer
Placer.ai reported that overall U.S. retail traffic in early 2025 shows modest growth so far this year, boding well for the upcoming back-to-school season. Traditional back-to-school categories, such as sportswear and footwear, are expected to remain strong.
