According to sources, California Fitness is set to return to Malaysia after exiting the market in 2009. A potential site for the first Malaysian fitness club is currently being identified.
The new outlet will be similar to California Fitness’ average outlet size of 30,000 sq ft.
In 2005, California Fitness partnered with superstars such as Jackie Chan and Yao Ming to create signature clubs around Asia. Most of these clubs have since been rebranded, closed or sold. By the latest count, California Fitness has 16 clubs in Asia including four clubs in Singapore.
Back in 2009, California Fitness sold all of its three outlets in Malaysia to Jakarta-headquartered Celebrity Fitness. The three outlets were located in Lot 10, Mid Valley Megamall and Sunway Pyramid. The Lot 10 outlet was a relocated outlet from Menara Standard Chartered.
Today, Celebrity Fitness is the largest fitness chain in Malaysia with 16 club outlets with 7 more outlets opening in 2015. Its 16th club was opened in November 2014 in Nu Sentral.
Other major operators in the market are:
- Fitness First (14 outlets);
- CHi Fitness by Clark Hatch International (9 outlets);
- Anytime Fitness (7 outlets);
- True Fitness (5 outlets); and
- Jatomi Fitness (4 outlets).
Fitness First in Malaysia was said to have over 36,000 members whereas Anytime Fitness, which opened its first outlet at The Cube, Bandar Puteri Puchong last year, is Malaysia’s first 24-hour fitness chain.