Fitness franchise company Curves International has launched its first club in Norway and announced plans to open 110 facilities in the country over the next five years.

Norway’s first Curves franchise opened in the Lysaker area of Oslo last month, and owners Sara Diane Hansson and Audrey Hamer Rojahn intend to open their second facility by September.

The growth is being driven by the CFW Group, a subsidiary of Curves, which is also leading a rollout in Germany.

“Our presence in Norway is helping to change the way women think about exercise,” says Kinnie Gibson, Curves’ sales representative.

According to Franchise Times magazine, Curves is the 10th largest franchise company in the world in terms of total units, with around 10,000 locations in 42 countries.

In addition to being the largest fitness franchise in the US and Canada – where it accounts for 27 per cent of all health clubs – Curves is the largest fitness franchise in Ireland and Spain, with more than 100 clubs sold in each country.