US fitness group F45, part-owned by actor Mark Wahlberg, set for major SA expansion | Business

Actor Mark Wahlberg (L) and F45 Founder and CEO Adam Gilchrist pose on the trading floor as F45 Training rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 15, 2021 in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for F45 Training)

US boutique fitness group F45 Training, which is partly owned by Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg, has ambitious expansion plans for SA, with its newly appointed local primary franchisor anticipating a fourfold increase in its gyms over the next five years.

As things stand, the 11-year-old group has 12 franchises in Cape Town and Johannesburg that would typically compete with the likes of the smaller CrossFit offerings or private gyms, rather than big-box operators such as Virgin Active and Planet Fitness.

F45 offers functional fitness classes run by personal trainers that typically last 45 minutes each. A variety of training classes are available, including cardio and resistance exercises, as well as a combination of both.