Talwalkars to expand into SE Asia with Snap Fitness

Singapore arm to be master franchise of global partner

Shaping up: Snap Fitness founder Peter Taunton (L) and Prashant Talwalkar with the media on July 11. Paul Noronha

Fitness chain Talwalkars Better Value Fitness has announced plans to foray into South-East Asian countries through a tie-up with Snap Fitness Inc., one of the largest gym chains having operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, England, Egypt and India.

As part of the expansion, Talwalkars will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore to be the exclusive master franchise for Snap Fitness in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, according to the company.

Franchise route

The investment and branch expansion network is still being worked out but the first two gyms under the Snap Fitness brand will be operational in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, a top Talwalkars executive said.

“Having expanded from Mumbai to Maharashtra and then across India and Sri Lanka, we want to be a global player,” said Prashant Talwalkar, MD and CEO, Talwalkars. “Through the tie-up with Snap Fitness, we will be expanding into South-East Asian markets. We will have some company-owned outlets in key cities and will take the franchise route to expand.”

Talwalkars runs gyms in 85 towns and cities in India and Sri Lanka. Its first gym was set up in Mumbai in 1932. The company now operates several brands including Talwalkars, Talwalkars Hi Fi, Inshape and Power World Gym brands in the gym space and Zorba in the yoga space.

In 2016, the firm went international, acquiring 49.5% of Sri Lanka-based Power World Gyms. This brand is also being progressively rolled out in India.