IRVINE, Calif. (August 1, 2022) – Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: XPOF), the largest global franchisor of boutique fitness brands, announced today it has signed a Master Franchise Agreement in Japan for CycleBar, the world’s largest indoor cycling brand. The agreement, signed with Xponential’s Master Franchisee for Club Pilates in Japan, gives the Master Franchisee the opportunity to license at least 30 CycleBar studios in Japan over the next 10 years. It follows recent announcements of new master franchise agreements by Xponential Fitness for the UK and Mexico. The new studios will expand CycleBar’s international footprint outside of North America to three countries, following Master Franchise Agreements in Australia and New Zealand. The first CycleBar studio in Japan is expected to open in 2023.
The Master Franchisee for CycleBar in Japan is entrepreneur Naoki Shimabukuro, CEO of Club Pilates Japan Co. Ltd. In addition to his role as Master Franchisee for CycleBar and Club Pilates, Shimabukuro is the Founder of Idealink Corporation, an internet media and franchise marketing agency, and was the organizer of the 2016 International Franchise Expo in Tokyo. The addition of CycleBar will expand on Shimabukuro’s current footprint in the Japanese market where Club Pilates has eight studios open and several more slated to open by the end of 2022.
“Japan is among the world’s top ten fitness markets, and we are confident that CycleBar will become one of the country’s top boutique fitness brands under Naoki’s leadership,” said John Kersh, Chief International Development Officer of Xponential Fitness. “His early success with Club Pilates is a testament to the growing enthusiasm for boutique fitness from Japanese consumers.”
“The timing is excellent for us to bring the immersive experience of CycleBar to Japan,” said Shimabukuro. “Japanese customers have an increasing interest in fitness and commitment to their health, and are seeking new and innovative options for their workout routines like CycleBar. Our team’s goal is to build CycleBar and Club Pilates into the most recognized and popular boutique fitness brands in Japan.”
In 2020, CycleBar signed a master franchise agreement for Australia, its first step outside North America, where the brand now has six studios in operation. That agreement was subsequently expanded to include New Zealand where the first studios are expected to open in 2023. CycleBar is backed by Xponential Fitness, the largest global franchisor of boutique fitness brands including Pure Barre, Club Pilates, StretchLab, Row House, YogaSix, AKT, Rumble, BFT, and STRIDE.
For more information about owning a CycleBar franchise, visit www.cyclebar.com/franchise.
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