Moscow-based Strata Partners – which operates the Orange Fitness and CityFitness health club chains – is now number two in the Russian market following recent new openings.

Since an investment from Belgian private equity fund GIMV earlier this year, Strata has opened four previously announced clubs – taking its total to 24 across the two chains, and has started work on seven new projects.

Two significant projects for Orange Fitness are in St Petersburg and Sokolniki, Moscow. These are equipped by Gym 80, Motus and Life Fitness. The former has involved rebranding and renovating an existing premium-class club; the latter is a new 2,000sq m (21,500sq ft) club located in a new Holiday Inn hotel in the east of Moscow. Both facilities are pre-selling memberships and are due to open for business this month.

Meanwhile, mass-market chain CityFitness has opened three clubs and is pre-selling five more – taking the chain to a total of 12 clubs across Russia. The latest project is a franchised club in Kishinev, the capital city of Moldova.