Former Olympic Champion Sally Gunnell, O.B.E, opened the first Snap Fitness club in the United Kingdom on October 16th, 2012 in Milton Keynes, London. The club is one of 75-100 Snap Fitness clubs expected to open within the next five years in the UK.
According to Puneet Walia, the managing director of the Milton Keynes location, the club opened to rave reviews from the local community. “The feedback that we are getting from our members is fantastic,” he said. “They love the equipment, the branding, the high customer service levels, the flexibility of a no-contract offering and the high security levels that we have at each location. We have fitted the club out to the highest standards that both Peter Taunton and I demand.”
Walia said the UK was in dire need of an affordable, convenient fitness club, a need that Snap Fitness was eager to fill. “In the UK there is a lack of facilities available around the clock to feed our 24-hour communities, except for a high level of fast food chains and supermarkets,” he explained. “The UK has the highest level of obesity in Europe, and so a 24-hour chain, which enables well-being at your convenience, is what the UK has been crying out for.”
According to Walia, Snap Fitness is perfectly equipped to meet the community’s health and fitness needs, due to its low-price model, high-quality services and staff. “There are club brands in the UK that charge a lot more money, yet have low-quality equipment and services, and members are recognizing this fact very quickly on their first visit to a Snap Fitness club,” said Walia. “At Snap Fitness we are very passionate about health and well-being. We are very serious about fitness and want to help our members reach their goals.”
Concerning whether or not the Snap Fitness model will succeed overseas in London, Walia believes the franchise will do well in the UK. “All over the world we suffer from the same issues,” he said. “People lead busy lives, working longer and longer hours and in between spending time with our friends and families, it is important to take care of your health. This is not just for you, but for the sake of your family. There are no quick fixes. There is no pill. You must eat well and exercise well to lead a healthy life and at Snap Fitness, we provide an environment for our members to get that fast, convenient and affordable workout into their daily routines.”
Walia said the Snap Fitness rollout throughout the UK will create over 500 jobs. The next UK location to open will be located in Kenton, London, and another 10-15 are expected to open in the Greater London area by the end of 2013.
By Rachel Zabonick
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
