One of the most affected industries during the COVID-19 health emergency was that of exercise clubs or the fitness sector. However, this year it has risen sharply and specialists predict excellent growth for the future.
“There is talk that in Mexico there were 12,500 gyms of all sizes and flavors and after the pandemic there were only 8,500 left,” says David Rascón, general director of AnytimeFitness.
Despite this, the fitness industry has achieved profits of over 500 million dollars per year in Mexico, after the closure due to the pandemic and more than 45% of the businessmen in the sector considered that they would reach normal operating conditions in the first quarter of this year.
According to the report Health and Fitness Clubs Market: Growth, Trends, Impact of COVID-19 and Forecasts (2021 – 2026)the Health and Fitness Club Market was valued at $81 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.21% during the forecast period (2021 – 2026) .
For its part, AnytimeFitnessa chain of gyms with a presence in 40 countries around the world, will close 2022 with 17 new openings in Mexico to achieve 80 units throughout the country, with a 30% growth in terms of money and users.
The sales graph in terms of money and users are about 30% above the numbers for January 2020, which was before the pandemic… Based on this comparison, I can tell you that we have recovered and not just recovered, but we grew by 30%
David Rascón, CEO of Anytime Fitness Mexico.
This responds to two main factors: a greater market share and an increase in the concern for physical health by people.
According to the expert, in terms of franchises, the fitness sector is one of the most promising in terms of profitability after conditions such as obesity were identified as a risk factor in people with COVID-19.
Demand will grow five times more in 10 years
Mexico is emerging as a promising country in the fitness industry with a potential market of 1.8 billion dollars. However, businessmen and entrepreneurs in the sector have the challenge of improving the penetration rate of this market, which, so far, is 3%.
“Penetration in the Mexican market is very low, out of every 100 Mexicans only three Mexicans go to the gym, it is a 3% penetration,” says Rascón.
The director’s expectation is that in 10 years that rate will grow to 15%, that is, “that for every 100 Mexicans, 15 go to the gym.”
“In terms of demand, it is expected to grow five times more in 10 years, and in franchise terms we expect to be close to 225 units. We do our strategic planning for about five or 10 years and that is the number we are looking for, ”he says.
Actual trends
The pandemic has certainly changed a lot of things. Now people care much more about their physical and mental health, but above all they know that they can do their exercises in a club like Anytime Fitness, in a park or even at home.
According to Statista, it was estimated that by 2025, the number of users of fitness applications in Mexico would rise to 13.8 million, while the number of users of wearables would reach nearly six million people.
David Rascón comments that right now the hybrid public of exercise is on the rise. Those people who want to exercise both in gyms and outside of them.
“There is a new public that is trending, the hybrid public… For them Anytime Fitness launched an application since January, which offers more than 5,000 exercises with videos, direct chat with the trainer of your gym, digital exercise program, among other things” says Rascon.
On the other hand, there is a trend that an older public began to go to gyms more frequently.
“Our audience was 80% people from 27 to 37 years old, now I see that there are more people 50, 60, 65 years old. There is a club where we have almost 700 people over the age of 65… I think that before, in the consumer’s mind, the gym was for young people and we have managed to convey that it is actually for the whole family… To improve your physical condition and your performance ”.
Currently, AnytimeFitness It operates in 40 countries and has 5,000 gyms serving six million people daily.