29 May 2012 Vivafit announces agreement for expansion into Malaysia BYPete Hayman
Image: The deal signals Vivafit's entry into Malaysia
Vivafit, the Portuguese female-only fitness and nutrition franchise, has revealed that it will be expanding into Malaysia with up to 200 health clubs under a new agreement.
The latest deal was signed between Vivafit CEO Pedro Ruiz and Vivafit Singapore's general manager, Cecile Jamoulle-Ögren - the holder of an agreement to open 100 Singapore gyms.
Malaysia's first Vivafit-branded facility - the sixth in Asia - is set to open in Kuala Lumpur "within a few months" and joins the three existing sites already open in Singapore.
The female-only franchise is planning to launch at least two more fitness clubs in Singapore by the end of the year. It is also negotiating its first move into the Indonesian market.
Malaysia will become the seventh country in which the female-only franchise has a presence - joining Portugal, Spain, India, Uruguay and Cyprus, as well as its operation in Singapore.
Pedro Ruiz said:"My expectations in Singapore have already been exceeded; We have been here for one year and there are already three Vivafit gyms improving Singaporean women health through fitness and nutrition with Portuguese specialists."
Jamoulle-Ögren added: "Vivafit's success in Malaysia should be even bigger than in Singapore due to easier access to real estate in Malaysia at the moment."
News of the contract signing comes after Vivafit's second location in Singapore was officially opened by AICEP president Pedro Reis at Raffles Place on 27 May.
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