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Bangalore, Aug. 11 Snap Fitness, a Minnnesota-based health club chain with over 2,000 clubs worldwide, will make a foray in the country with its first club in Bangalore.

“Our USP would be affordable health clubs that are easily accessible and conveniently located,” says Mr Peter Taunton, Founder and CEO, Snap Fitness.

Mr Taunton, who started the health club chain in April 2004, believes people “go to health clubs to exercise” and that’s why in the US, the club did away with unnecessary amenities such as racquetball courts and childcare, and instead, started smaller and more efficient facilities that were more affordable and offered 24x7 services.

In India, Snap Fitness will grow through the franchising route and expects to be present in at least 20 locations by March 2009. The long-term plan is to have around 400 centres in the country in five years.

Currently, the health club chain is present in 1,650 locations worldwide with over 400,000 members. “Apart from the accessibility and affordability advantages, Snap will also offer members the convenience of using any of our clubs in any location worldwide,” says Mr Taunton.

Snap which will be present in three different formats (1,500 sq ft, 2,500 sq ft and 3,500 sq ft) in India and will offer memberships at about Rs 1,200 a month. Apart from physical training, Snap members can also avail themselves of nutrition help from dieticians present at all the clubs, he said.

The fitness market in India is estimated to be worth around Rs 2,500 crore and growing at about 40 per cent year-on-year. The segment has only about 20 organised players forming about six per cent of the market.

More Stories on : Strategy | Health

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