Polands growing fitness market

The Polish fitness market is considered to be of one of the biggest potential growth markets in Europe and the 2nd largest fitness club market in Central Europe (CE). In 2018 the number of fitness club members in Poland has exceeded 2,910,000 people. In comparison Germany the leading fitness market in Central Europe has 10,610,000 gym members which represents 12.9% of its population of 82 million. Poland with a population just under 38 million people has 7.7% of its population active gym members so a lot of potential to grow.

Why Poland:
    38 million population

    Just under 3 million members of fitness clubs

    In 3-5 years its expected this number will increase to 4 million members a total of 10.5% of the population 

    2720 fitness clubs

    867 million euro fitness clubs revenue

Whats happening in Polands Fitness Industry?

Zdrofit promises to meet the needs of its members

 In its recent plans to expand the business, Zdrofit has affirmed that it will improve the leisure and entertainment services in three centers including Atrium, Promenada in Warsaw, the Atrium center in Koszalin, and the Atrium Mosty in Plock. According to the report, Zdrofit plans to open all its centers in May. The director of the leasing department at Atrium, Poland Real Estate Management Marta Hamarowicz said, “In order to meet our client's expectations, we have ensured that every member will have access to our fitness clubs in the various centers. We are aware that it is important to have access to sports and recreational facilities these days and we give an assurance that Zdrofit fitness clubs will soon be welcoming our shared customers.” Zdrofit plans to open two clubs in the former Jatomi locations which will offer a combined area of 3700 sqm as indicated in the EPP’s portfolio. The chain plans to lease 1,700 sqm in Wzorcownia Wloclawek, and 1,900 sqm in Galleria Echo in Kielce. The year started on a good note for Zdrofit with the taking over locations previously occupied by Jatomi Fitness. The new locations are the Renova shopping center in Warsaw’s Targowek district, the Mazovia mall in Plock, and the Korona center in Kielce. The company has revealed plans to open more clubs in a bid to expand in the capital city rapidly. The clubs that will be opened in Kielce and Wloclawek will mark the first phase of expansion. The company has leased the first floor of the Bobrowiecka 8 office building in Warsaw’s Dolny Mokotow district. The clubs are scheduled to be opened in the Q3.

CityFit, Calypso, and others take over former Jatomi Fitness Locations

At the beginning of 2018, the Fitness industry in Poland was shocked to receive the announcement by the owner of Jatomi Fitness chain that it will be closing its operations in Poland. The company had over 37 shopping centers across the country at that time. The CEO of Jatomi Fitness, Trevor Brennan indicated that the business was discussing with other fitness operators who managed shopping centers for a transfer of its lease agreements. The negotiations have been reportedly successful and other brands will soon be expanding their businesses by taking over the former Jatomi Fitness locations.

The former locations that were used by Jatomi Fitness will be taken over by other fitness chains in Poland such as Poland CityFit, and Calypso, as well as some smaller fitness companies that have just started growing their businesses in the country. It is reported that a contract has already been signed by the Polish chain CityFit with the Poznań's Pestka mall owners where its first club will be opened in the H2 of this year. The director of expansion at CityFit, Piotr Szymonski has indicated that the club will occupy an area of 2,200 sqm and it will be open 24-hours every day, seven days a week. The chain currently has fifteen clubs, and it has been signing agreements to open clubs in more locations.

Calypso Fitness chain has also announced it plans to open two new clubs in May. The new clubs will occupy the former location owned by Globalworth Poland which were offices and retail centers. The company formerly was called Griffin Premium RE before it was acquired by a Romanian investor. Calypso will occupy the 1,850 sqm areas on the second floor of the Supersam center in Katowice and about 1,700 sqm on the minus level at the Renoma center in Wroclaw. Edyta Bobek, the director of the retail space leasing department at Globalworth Poland has made a statement about these changes “Our new tenant replaces an earlier fitness operator and their business perfectly suits the range of series in our centers.  People who wish to keep fit will have a good experience with the well-trained staff and good equipment in the best city location. After exercising, they can go shopping, eat or have a cup of coffee in one of the many cafes and restaurants. Currently, Calypso Fitness has over 47 clubs in 20 Polish towns and cities; the company employs over 900 qualified trainers. In addition, My Fitness Place, also a new operator, will take over a former Jatomi Fitness location at the Forum shopping center in Gliwice. The club will be opened in May and it will occupy an area of 1,300 sqm. In the fitness room which is an area of about 200sqm, there will be 8 different exercise spaces. My Fitness Place also operates clubs in Zabrze, Sosnowiec, Opole, Bielsko Biala, and Krakow. There are confirmations that Poznan in the Malta centre has signed up with Saturn Fitness currently located in the 2,500 sqm second floor building space. It will be the chains second largest club in Poland with the largest club located in Krakow.