Club Pilates signed a Master Franchise Agreement (MFA) in Thailand this week, committing to open 20 studios in Bangkok, the municipality, and Chonburi Province.The company said the agreement marks the Club Pilates brand’s 22nd international market, with the first studio in Thailand planned to open in Bangkok next spring.
The agreement has been signed with Me In Motion Co., Ltd., led by CEO Thanayous Kositsakul. He is reportedly a seasoned business leader with over three decades of experience operating Toyota dealerships, and his wife, Varissara Kositsakul. Together, Club Pilates reported in a media release that they “have extensive experience owning and operating international retail and franchise businesses in Thailand,” and also bring a “strong background in the fitness and golf apparel sectors through their former company, TAFF Co., Ltd., which distributed global brands such as Callaway Golf, Taylormade, Cobra-Puma Golf, Acushnet, Adidas, and Billabong.”
“Thailand has always been a strong, trend-setting market, and Pilates is on the rise here,” said Bob Kaufman, president of International at Xponential Fitness, the parent of Club Pilates. “Now is the right time to launch Club Pilates in Bangkok. Thanayous and Varissara have a proven track record of building multiple global brands in Thailand. Their passion for the fitness & wellness lifestyle makes them the perfect team to lead the Club Pilates expansion in Thailand.”
Thanayous Kositsakul said, “Pilates is perfectly aligned with the wellness and lifestyle trends they are seeing in Thailand.” He continued, “Club Pilates is the gold standard in the industry. Our team has successfully launched multiple international brands in Thailand, and we’re excited to now bring Club Pilates’ inclusive, premium fitness experience to our local communities.”
Founded in 2007, Club Pilates reports that it is the “largest Pilates brand by number of studios.” Based in Irvine, CA, Club Pilates has 475 open studios outside of the U.S. and Canada across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
Images courtesy Club Pilates (shown above Thanayous and Varissara Kositsakul with Bob Kaufman, President, International, Xponential Fitness)
