JJB Sports has announced plans to almost double the number of health clubs it operates over the next year, despite reporting a fall in profits for 2004.

In the coming year, JJB intends to open a further 33 superstores, of which 18 will incorporate health clubs. Two of them will also include soccer centres.

In its preliminary results for the year to 30 January, the retailer and health club operator reported that total turnover was down 1.1 per cent and underlying operating profit was down 28 per cent.

The company’s leisure division however – consisting of 21 health clubs and four soccer centres – saw turnover increase by 41 per cent to £62.7m. Operating profits also rose, to £10.6m from £9.1m in 2004. The company currently has around 100,000 health club members and aims to reach 175,000 by this time next year.

JJB’s chair and founder, David Whelan, said that his long term goal is to have a million health club members nationwide.

“Despite the reduced level of profit during the accounting period just ended, we continue to benefit from a very strong cash flow which supports the platform for the expansion of our leisure division and also our standalone superstores,” he said. Details: www.jjb.co.uk