A new franchise based on a Scandinavian weight-loss programme is offering incentives to the first UK health and fitness businesses which take it up.

Founded in 2001 , Xtravaganza now has 180 outlets across Scandinavia and franchises are set to be rolled out across the UK, starting in South Wales, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester. UK managing director Geoff Rigg said: “Our route to market here is going to be through established health and fitness centres.

"We offer the great opportunity to bolt on a successful and potentially very lucrative franchise to an established business with very low initial capital outlay." The Xtravaganza concept has four guiding principles, using the combination of food, NLP-based mind training (neuro-linguistic programming), education and the introduction of exercise.

Franchisees will receive full customer support from Xtravaganza UK, including training courses and business systems with regularly updated documentation. In a move designed to show both potential customers and potential franchisees how well the system works, the company is reducing the franchise fee for the first ten to £1,500 per annum with no other capital sum required.

Image: Xtravaganza UK managing director Geoff Rigg