Gold’s Gym Strengthens Global Presence

Gold’s Gym, the world’s leading authority on health and fitness, today announced the formation of its International Franchise Council, a committee designed to provide a forum for open dialogue between and among representatives from Gold’s Gym International and Gold’s Gym’s international franchise community. The primary purpose of the forum is for franchisees and the corporate office to have an ongoing discussion about positive business results and how to learn from past experiences for the benefit of the entire Gold’s Gym franchise system.

“This signals an important moment for our company. It is an indication of the vital role the international community is playing in shaping our organization,” said Joel Tallman, senior vice president of Franchising and global operations for Gold’s Gym International. “We now have the Gold’s Gym Franchise Association in the United States and the International Franchise Council abroad. Taken together, some of the best minds in fitness around the world will collaborate to sustain our prominent place in the industry.”

Five individuals will head the International Franchise Council, including: Ian Rondon, Gold’s Gym master franchisee for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Haiti, Ali Mahmoud, Gold’s Gym master franchisee for Egypt, and Jake Weinstock, Gold’s Gym master franchisee for Russia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Spain and Portugal along with James Weaver, CEO of Gold’s Gym International, and Tallman.

“We are embracing the collective knowledge base of our franchise system to ensure our success for the years to come,” added Tallman. “The leadership on this council is committed to working side by side with our gym owners around the world.”

The pace of Gold’s Gym’s globalization has picked up in 2009. During the past five months, 26 gyms have opened outside the United States. The total of non-U.S. gyms is now 165. In addition, Gold’s Gym has signed a pair of 20-year contact extensions with existing international master franchisees. Power Sports Management Company Limited (PSMCL) signed the agreement to continue developing gyms with franchise investors in Russia. F2 Fun & Fitness did the same for India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives markets.

Moreover, thus far in 2009, notable new Gold’s Gyms have opened in Madrid, Spain, the first and flagship location for the brand in the country, and Sweden, where an existing five-unit chain has converted to Gold’s Gym.

Currently, there are more than 125 gyms in Gold’s Gym’s global development pipeline

About Gold’s Gym
Established in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold’s Gym is the largest co-ed gym chain in the world with over 690 locations in 43 states and 28 countries. Gold’s Gym offers state of the art exercise equipment and industry leading fitness programs, including group exercise, personal training, cardiovascular equipment, spinning, Pilates, yoga and Cardio Cinema, while maintaining its core weight lifting tradition. With nearly 3.5 million members worldwide, Gold’s Gym helps all kinds of people achieve their individual potential through fitness.