FitnessOne will focus on IT sector

Chennai-based FitnessOne, which manages a chain of fitness centres in many South Indian cities, is eyeing the IT sector for growth. The company plans to set up fitness centres within the premises of IT firms for their employees.

So far, the company has set up fitness centres for several companies, including Cognizant Technologies, in Chennai and Bangalore.

"We are in discussion with Qualcomm, Cypress Semiconductors and Motorola to set up fitness centres within their campus. Talks are on with other companies also," said FitnessOne India MD P Vivekanand.

According to him, the firm "started setting up fitness centres within the premises of IT firms in September last year. It is growing at a rate faster than what we had expected."

FitnessOne will supply the equipment to the centres and also deploy trainers to assist employees of the IT firms. "We are signing yearly contracts to operate the fitness centres on a revenue sharing model," he said.

The company is also in the process of setting up fitness centres at IT parks and campuses for common use. It has set up two such centres in IT parks located in Whitefield. On Friday, the company opened two more centres in the city to take the total count to 13. It plans to set up another 10 fitness centres in the city over the next three years. At present, the company owns 25 fitness centres in the country.

FitnessOne has opened 'Pink' branded fitness centres for women in Chennai and Coimbatore. It plans to open 'Pink' centres in the city also.

"Apart from operating the fitness centres on our own, we offer franchise. In the last three years, we have invested Rs 25 crore. We expect the last fiscal revenue to cross Rs 35 crore," Vivekanand stated.

The company is also foraying into retailing fitness equipment through the 'FitnessOne Factory' brand.

"We are planning a nationwide roll-out in a couple of months. The demand for fitness equipment is growing in the urban centres," he noted.

FitnessOne plans to sell fitness equipment brands like Life Fitness, Star Trac and Nautilus. "We are also producing our own brand Propel, which will be sold through the FitnessOne Factory."