Health and fitness entrepreneur, Jan Spaticchia and business partner Peter Sage, have announced plans to open a number of clubs throughout the UK in 2003 under their énergie fitness brand.

They are currently undertaking an aggressive acquisitions drive which has included the purchase of four HiLife clubs - the chain managed by Spaticchia until early 2002 - in Canterbury, Liscombe Park, Ipswich and Redditch.

The Redditch club has been closed and its membership merged with the nearby Club Ventura as part of a profit sharing deal.

Spaticchia and Sage also bought the HiLife name as part of the acquisition, but eventually plan to rebrand the remaining clubs as énergie. 'The HiLife name still creates a lot of positive recognition, so if we rebranded to énergie straight away it would be like starting from scratch,' says Spaticchia. 'So instead, we plan to go on the acquisitions trail for clubs to join are existing énergie fitness in Leighton Buzzard and are currently in talks with a number of chains and independent clubs.'

HiLife went into administration in October 2002 following failure to achieve profitable expansion. Two other clubs from the original portfolio - in Charing, Kent and Leicester - have been bought by Risebridge Health and Sports club and Just for Ladies respectively. Details: +44 (0)1908 647485