Russian health and fitness chain, World Class Clubs, has become one of the first health club companies in the world to receive the prestigious EFFIE award.

Introduced by the New York American Marketing Association (AMA) in 1968, the awards are now competed for in 30 different countries around the globe and recognise creative achievement in meeting and exceeding advertising objectives.

Held in Russia for the last seven years, the EFFIE/Best Brand award is the only national award that recognises the year’s most effective campaigns in creation, management and building of a brand. The awards ceremony has become one of the highlights of the Russian business calender with more than 1,000 of the leading Russian and international companies attending the event last year.

The World Class Clubs group was awarded the Golden EFFIE for 2004, symbolising the nation’s highest achievement in marketing, brand-building, and advertising. The chain opened three clubs in 2004 and sales were up by 20 per cent, while membership grew by 30 per cent.

Founded in 1993 by Olga Sloutsker, the chain has expanded to 15 sites in Russia and the CIS. These include nine facilities in Moscow and six further clubs in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan: Kiev, Almati, Astana, Saratov, Nizhniy Novgorod and Rostov-on-Don.

Targeting the upper end of the market, the World Class Clubs offer more than 50 group fitness programmes and more than 30 aqua fitness classes.

Each facility has an on-staff sports doctor and a nutritionist, as well as a spa, fitness bar and a Kids Club catering for six-month-old babies to 16-year-olds.

The Art Club at the company’s ladies-only facility also offers mobile sessions with designers, writers, musicians, arts critics and nutritionists.

The chain is due to open another club this month in the Moscow district of Kuntsevo with another two sites planned for early 2005.