Senior Business Correspondent

GYMNASIUM operator Planet Fitness plans to roll out 40 fitness centres by 2010, following an increase in turnover of 47% in 2002 and 2003.

The company, wholly owned by shareholders Manny Rivera, Mannee de Wet and Willie Brasse, said it was also on the lookout for a black empowerment partner.

Brasse said they were looking at selling 30%-40% to an empowerment partner over the next 12 to 18 months.

Planet Fitness started in 1995 with 10 people, amid scepticism from the industry about whether another operator would succeed in a tough environment, in direct competition with Virgin Active.

The company has since grown to have 800 employees and 135000 members.

Planet Fitness CEO Manny Rivera said last week the group projected sales growth of more than 26% from 2003 to 2004. The privately owned company declined to give the value of sales, citing competition concerns.

With the number of fitness centres having increased to 11, the acquisition strategies have changed and been replaced with value added services, Riviera said. Medical aids are increasingly contributing more to sales .

"In light of medical aids and their impact on the industry, seeking for membership is not as hard as it used to be before. The challenge is retaining the members once they have joined."