Europe’s largest fitness chain, Basic-Fit, has consolidated its position in France with the launch of its 800th club on the iconic Champs-Élysées, in Paris, confirming France as its largest market.

The affordable fitness brand, which was founded in the Netherlands, launched into the French market in 2011 and the German market in 2022.

Basic-Fit now has 1,402 clubs across six European countries – Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain and 3.75 million members.

This year it will continue rolling out clubs in France, working towards the ambition of 1,200 clubs there by 2030. At 10 per cent, the penetration rate in France lags behind many countries, but Basic-Fit believes its affordable fitness concept and conveniently-located clubs is helping to change this.

Now present in all French cities with more than 30,000 residents, the company is now looking to go to smaller locations.

The latest 800sq m club has zones for cycling, cardio, bodybuilding, stretching, functional, free and light weights and a social corner. It offers a wide choice of on-demand training sessions – also available at home – with more than 300 group classes on offer for the four-weekly membership of €19.99.

The company has also announced a partnership with Grande Cause Nationale, a French charity working towards the democratisation of physical activity by encouraging more people to be active and making physical activity more accessible.

To mark the collaboration, Basic-Fit is giving away 200 memberships to people with disabilities and has donated 500 bikes to hospitals across France.

Rédouane Zekkri, COO at Basic-Fit, says: “Our 800th launch symbolises our strong territorial presence in France, while the partnership with Grande Cause Nationale will work towards sport for all, inclusion and to fight against the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. We are committed to encouraging all French people to participate in regular sporting activity for their health, wellbeing and self-confidence.”

In June 2022, CEO, Rene Moos, said Basic-Fit was on track to have 1,250 clubs open by the end of the year – having opened 72 in the first quarter – and 3,500 clubs by 2030.

In March 2023, Moos said the company was aiming to open 200 clubs that year as part of its aim to grow by a net 200 - 300 clubs a year, including closures.

The new numbers of 1,402 locations doesn’t include the 42 McFit and five Holmes Place clubs the company snapping up in a deal forRSG’s Spanish portfolio last month, making Basic-Fit the biggest operator in Spain by number of locations.

The goal of 3,500 clubs by 2030 has been revised to be 3,000 - 3,500.

The company is one of an elite few operators in the world, outside the franchise market, to have more than 1,000 locations.