Top 5 Fitness Industry Business News Stories (10/11 – 10/17)

• PureGym Acquires Swiss Low-Cost Chain NonStop Gym for £235M ($311.4M) PureGym reached an agreement to acquire Switzerland’s NonStop Gym, absorbing 47 clubs and over 100,000 members. The deal significantly accelerates PureGym’s expansion across French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland at a valuation of approximately £5 million per club. Source: Health Club Management
• Smart Fit Invests Up to R$32M ($6.3M) for Stake in Buddha Spa Latin American fitness operator Smart Fit entered an agreement to acquire an initial stake of up to 20% in Buddha Wellness Group Brasil, the operator behind Brazil’s largest spa franchise network (149 locations). The contract includes a call option to expand the equity stake to 30%, reflecting fitness chains’ rapid push into recovery and spa modalities. Source: Health Club Management
• SweatHouz Outlines 12-Studio New York Expansion Strategy Contrast therapy and infrared sauna operator SweatHouz announced plans to open at least 12 locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The New York rollout begins with an 8,000-square-foot flagship studio located in Tribeca. Source: Health Club Management
• Mo Chaudry Raises Pulse Fitness Stake to 80% to Drive Global Target Fitness entrepreneur Mo Chaudry increased his equity holding in UK equipment manufacturer and software supplier Pulse Fitness from 51% to 80%. The recapitalization will fund accelerated international market distribution, targeting £100 million in turnover by 2030. Source: Health Club Management
• Les Mills Stages Global Filming Event in Barcelona for 2027 Releases Les Mills drew 3,300 group fitness instructors and participants from 100 countries to Barcelona to film eight masterclass program releases. The event marked the brand’s first major international staging since incoming CEO Jason Paris succeeded founder Phillip Mills. Source: Health Club Management

Look Ahead: This Week in Fitness Business

• HCM Summit 2026 (London, October 22): Senior leadership from PureGym, SATS, Nuffield Health, and Total Fitness will convene at London’s QEII Centre. Key sessions will focus on cognitive/brain fitness integration, medical-fitness partnerships (including GLP-1 programming), and low-cost operator consolidation strategies. Details and coverage will run via HCM Summit Live.
• Recovery Integration & Franchise Pipelines: Following Smart Fit’s spa expansion and SweatHouz’s studio push, watch for updates from boutique studio franchises adding contrast therapy amenities and cross-sector retail loyalty schemes to boost retention.