LifeFit Group is expanding its range of premium clubs with the acquisition of Sports & Health in the centre of Munich, which will be rebranded as Fitness First Black.

Spread across 2,200sq m over three floors, Sports & Health offers training areas, a wellness area with a sauna, steam bath, women’s sauna and rooftop terrace. Founded in 2003 by Jörg Aneser, the studio has experienced continuous revenue growth and currently has around 3,000 members.

This latest deal expands LifeFit Group’s premium offering to 48 clubs, primarily located in larger cities and economic hubs, and follows the acquisition of SportsUp fitness club in Wiesbaden in January, which is also being rebranded as a Fitness First Black.

Christophe Collinet, CCO of LifeFit Group, says: “We're pleased to further expand and strengthen the premium offering of LifeFit Group with the latest two acquisitions. While we've been able to grow faster with Fitness First Red in recent years, we're focusing on selective and somewhat smaller acquisitions for Fitness First Black in strategically important clusters. We're proud that Jörg Aneser has decided to sell his life’s work to us, as we know how important it was to him that his studio finds a good new home.”

Whether or not a club is branded as Fitness First Red or Fitness First Black depends on the previous orientation, equipment, location and potential members. “A future Fitness First Black studio must have that certain something,” says Johannes Maßen, COO of LifeFit Group and MD of Fitness First. “With Sports & Health, it was immediately clear that this studio would enrich our Fitness First Black offering.”

LifeFit Group also opened its second Elbgym studio in Munich in November. Elbgym is LifeFit Group’s exclusive performance fitness provider, with a total of eight studios across Germany. Members of Elbgym and Fitness First Black have access to both brands as part of their membership.

After being acquired by Waterland Private Equity Investments last September, LifeFit Group has been devoted to a growth strategy with the aim of reaching more than 250 clubs by 2028. The company also holds franchises for Barry’s, Club Pilates and YogaSix.