Press Office

Esporta Reports Healthy Performance

Date: 25 Oct, 2004

Leading health, fitness and racquets club operator Esporta has reported a significant increase in membership numbers for this year to date.  The company has attracted 9% more members to date this year [up to the end of September 04] than in 2003 bringing total membership at its 62 UK clubs (health and fitness and racquets clubs combined) to 227,000. 

Esporta's racquets clubs are consistently performing well in the market with new members for the same period up by 13%.

These results can be attributed to the current senior management team at Esporta headed by CEO Neil Gillis, which has now been running the business for one year after a period of instability at the company that saw five CEOs within a two-year period.

The turnaround at the company is largely due to a number of focused initiatives aimed at cutting attrition, improving standards and providing innovation in the market.

Amongst these initiatives is the On Track eight-week induction programme which new members go through when they sign up.  This has proved extremely effective at encouraging longer term member retention by ensuring members get started on a closely monitored, bespoke fitness programme.  The company has also incorporated a mystery member programme to encourage high customer service standards across the business.

Targeted referrals campaigns have also proved successful with over 10,000 new members joining in 2004 as a result of word of mouth recommendation incentivised by a range of offers and products ranging from heart rate monitors and body fat scales to a Disney trip and ESPA health and beauty products.

Commenting on the performance Gillis said: "We are very pleased with the progress that we have made at Esporta over the past year.  The fitness industry is a tough, competitive environment and we are pleased that our targeted approach to member retention and customer service is paying dividends."

Esporta recently opened a new club in Guildford and plans to open another one in Swindon next year.  The company has also announced £100m funding from private equity group Duke Street, which owns Esporta, to open new racquets sites.

Ends
For further information please contact:
Catherine Humphries / Joanna Randall
Corixa Communications, 0117 949 3394
Email: Catherine.Humphries@corixa.co.uk

Date of issue:  25 October 2004