The UK health
and fitness market was worth an estimated £3.45 billion in 2006
and is forecast to grow by around 4-5% per annum over the 2007-10
period according to the 1st edition of the “Health &
Fitness Market – Focus On Clubs & Equipment UK 2007”recently
published by AMA Research. The report reviews the health
club market in the UK providing comprehensive analysis of both the
overall market and its main sectors including the Private Health
Clubs and Local Authority Leisure Centres, as well as the Commercial
and Home Fitness Equipment markets. The report provides analysis of
sectors in terms of size, major trends and key influences on the
market, product mix, profiles of the main suppliers and forecasts of
future prospects to 2010.While the
Private Health club industry experienced reasonable levels of
growth over the past two years, consolidation continues to be a key
market influence in the private sector with a number of high profile
health club chains being acquired in 2006. This is likely to
continue in the medium term as market maturity is reached. Growth
rates in the Local Authority sector have continued to improve
due to higher levels of refurbishment and investment over the last
two years.
The
performance of the Commercial Fitness Equipment sector is
very much dependent on that of the Health Club Market and
consequently growth in the sector has slowed in the last two years,
though the market is still valued at over £200 million. However,
growth levels have remained reasonable, as the health club market
has continued to expand in terms of numbers of outlets. The Home
Fitness Equipment market remains challenging, having grown
slowly over the last two years as a result of increasing price
competition in the sector.
AMA’s report
also provides an insight into the future prospects for the health
and fitness market with indications of moderate value growth across
the industry to 2010. The Private Health Club sector will
continue to experience high levels of consolidation in the medium
term, but growth levels will remain reasonable. The outlook for the
Local Authority sector is very positive and is likely to be
spurred on by investment in the 2012 Olympics in the medium term,
which provide a focus for a wide range of initiatives aimed at
encouraging higher participation in sports and fitness activities.
The
continued development of the health club market is likely to fuel
growth in the Commercial Fitness Equipment sector, though this is
anticipated to slow to around 3 - 4% per annum as clubs seek to
broaden the range of ancillary services and increase membership
retention levels. Similar levels of growth are projected in the Home
Fitness Equipment market as consumers seek to recreate the gym
experience in their homes, with a growing focus on added-value
features. As a result, the overall outlook for the Health and
Fitness industry remains reasonably positive in the medium term and
should benefit from growing concerns over obesity and general
fitness levels across all age groups.
