Chattanooga-based Echelon acquires advanced recovery company | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Chattanooga-based Echelon Fitness has acquired a fast-growing company focused on advanced recovery treatments including cold immersion therapy.

ThriveX will enable Echelon, which focuses primarily on selling fitness equipment such as connected bikes, to expand its product offerings, according to the company.

Lou Lentine, Echelon’s chief executive, said Echelon was founded in 2017 to address an unmet need in the market.

“Our investment proved correct as we have soared to become a leading player in the global fitness industry,” said Lentine in a statement. “Once again, we are ahead of the trend, understanding that an end-to-end fitness experience requires prevention and recovery.”

The addition of ThriveX provides more comprehensive wellness solutions to customers, Echelon said.

Among other ThriveX recovery products are smart hybrid saunas and compression boots, the company said.

Echelon said organizations such the American College of Sports Medicine and National Strength and Conditioning Association promote the benefits of recovery in performance and injury prevention.

This year, Echelon revenues are slated to increase about 20% over 2023, said Dara Trujillo, the company’s vice president of strategic alliances, in an email earlier in 2024.

(READ MORE: Echelon CEO jabs Peloton)

She said Echelon has 240 full-time employees, with 98 of them in Chattanooga.

Echelon benefited from the pandemic-driven surge in interest in its equipment and connected classes and services.

Lentine said in an interview in December 2021 Echelon’s revenues had soared 1,000% in 2020 and the company set up relationships with major retailers. But in 2021, he predicted revenues would rise about 65% and then 42% in 2022.

Earlier this year, Echelon was a finalist for a small business of the year award from the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for companies with between 50 and 300 employees.

— Compiled by Mike Pare