INDUSTRY RESEARCH
RIDING THE ZEITGEIST
MICHAEL OLIVER
SENIOR LEISURE ANALYST, MINTEL
Key fi ndings from Mintel’s new Health and Fitness Clubs UK report
F
rom humble beginnings in the late 1980s and early After sports participation – which attracts an annual
1990s, the health and fi tness club industry has grown spend of £4.6bn – this £2.525bn fi gure positions health
to be a substantial market: in its new Health and Fitness and fi tness clubs as the second largest active sector, with
Clubs UK report, released in October 2009, Mintel estimates an annual value around three times that of standalone
that – as at mid-2009 – there were around 2,645 private clubs fi tness classes (classes held outside the home for which
in the UK (see table 1) generating revenues of £2.525bn. a fee is payable, not including classes held at a club and
Member penetration of private gyms, meanwhile, has provided as part of the membership).
stabilised at 10.45 per cent of adults (July 2009 sample of Revenues are forecast to grow towards £3bn over the
4,000 internet users aged 16 and over). next fi ve years, putting the health and fi tness club sector on
a par with the video and computer games market in the UK.
TABLE 1 – NUMBER OF PRIVATE HEALTH AND
FITNESS CLUBS IN THE UK, 2004–2009 CONFIDENCE CRISIS
During the past fi ve years, the market has grown by nearly
YEAR NUMBER OF CLUBS a quarter on the back of new club openings and an increase
2004 2,667
in the proportion of adults who are members. However,
Mintel research shows that private club openings have
2005 2,671
slowed over the past year as the funding necessary to
2006 2,671
pursue an aggressive expansion programme has dried up
– a result of the combined impact of the banking crisis and
2007 2,668
the associated economic recession, as well as a scarcity of
2008 2,660 suitable development sites.
Meanwhile, some clubs report fl at revenue and member
2009 (est) 2,645
numbers for 2008–09, while others have seen a decline in
Source: Mintel both measures; as consumer confi dence has plummeted
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