Posted:24-April-2025
Why fitness and food make up a healthy multi-brand franchise portfolio
With UK gym memberships predicted to reach record highs in 2025, fitness franchising is catching the eye of investors
Multi-brand franchising, owning franchises from more than one brand, is incredibly popular in the UK. By investing in multiple industries, franchisees can diversify their portfolio and spread their risk across different sectors or consumer demographics.
This can mean that if one brand underperforms due to market trends or seasonality, the others may compensate, creating more stability in overall income.
Fitness and food; a healthy combination
Multi-brand franchising is particularly prolific for investors in the food and beverage sector, with 50% of franchisees estimated to operate franchises from multiple brands.
At Snap Fitness, we have several gym owners that operate quick service restaurant (QSR) franchises and have chosen to branch out into fitness franchising.
But, why? QSR franchises offer huge earning potential but can be quite a hands-on operation, with high staffing levels and a heavy reliance on marketing to acquire repeat custom. Additionally, investors are seeing their QSR businesses being hit hard by rising operational costs. Whether its food and ingredient prices, packaging or minimum wage, this combination of increases is contributing to ever-narrowing profit margins.
While gyms aren’t immune to these rises, experienced franchisees are increasingly recognising their potential. Gyms typically operate on just two full-time members of staff and with a monthly membership model, revenue can be much more predictable. With a combination of strong recruitment and leveraging expert Support Office guidance, investors can manage a fitness franchise at more of a distance and entrust the day-to-day operations to the gym staff themselves.
You can build greater relationships with your customers too, with members typically exercising for over an hour in your facility as opposed to the grab and go nature of QSR.
Why the fitness industry in particular?
The UK fitness industry is the healthiest it’s ever been. It reached an all-time high value of £5.9 billion in 2024 as well as soaring to record membership levels; 15.9% of the UK population how have a gym membership. (2024 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report)
People may read that out loud and think 15.9% seems quite low, which is the most exciting thing about it. This untapped potential of the fitness industry is increasingly attracting the attention of experienced franchisees.
A common misconception we face from potential franchisees is that the UK gym market is saturated which we’re delighted to say isn’t the case! There are hundreds of locations across the UK & Ireland that Snap Fitness has identified as having lucrative earning potential for a new gym. Our opening numbers in 2024 demonstrate what can happen if you get it right; with new gyms opening with an average of 44% more members than sites that opened in 2023.
Keep an eye on ‘Generation Active’
Millennials and Generation Z present a hugely exciting opportunity for gym operators; they love their fitness and the stats back it up. The two generations, dubbed ‘Generation Active’, currently make up 80% of all gym go-ers worldwide. (Les Mills 2021 Global Fitness Report).
Evidence is increasingly showing that working out is becoming the new going out in the UK. A recent survey by ukactive found that 23% of 25 to 34-year-olds prioritise investing in gym memberships and fitness services, compared to eating out or drinking socially, which was only prioritised by 6 per cent.
These numbers are expected to grow further and shows an exciting future for the industry.

Interested and want to know more about Snap Fitness?
The Snap Fitness profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.