DOVER, NH -- The Joyce J. Cammilleri family purchased World Gym International from Planet Fitness for undisclosed terms on Dec. 31.
The new owners purchased the World Gym brand as well as the relationship with the franchisees. Mike Uretz , the former president and CEO who sold World Gym to Planet Fitness in 2006, will serve as an advisor to World Gym.
“We are thrilled to have purchased World Gym and to announce that the company will return to Southern California,” family spokesman Guy Cammilleri said in a statement. “World Gym will once again be the home of serious fitness, and the first team members to join us are Karin Michael as director of franchisee relations and former CEO and industry veteran Mike Uretz.”
The Cammilleri family has a background as private investors and formerly co-owned and operated JOICO International, a global salon hair care brand and company that was sold to Shiseido Cosmetics in 2001. The family has known Uretz for several years, values his industry experience and asked him to join the team as an advisor, though he did not gain any ownership interest, Michael says.
“I can’t think of better stewards for the brand, and I can tell you Guy and his family bring energy, focus and a commitment to energize the World Gym brand. [World Gym founder] Joe Gold would be happy to know that World Gym has once again found its way back to the future,” Uretz said in a statement.
Planet Fitness put World Gym up for sale in July 2008, two years after it bought the company for around $10 million. Two different groups made offers to buy the company, Planet Fitness CEO Mike Grondahl said at the time—one group from Asia and the other group led by Uretz.
“It’s been no secret that World Gym was on the blocks for months,” says John Craig, Planet Fitness spokesperson. “The new owners came up with a deal that was to our liking.”
Craig noted that since the two companies have operated as separate entities, the sale should not affect Planet Fitness franchisees. He said Planet Fitness now has more than 250 clubs, while World Gym had around 200 at the time of the sale.
Michael said the World Gym plans are still in development, though they do have several ideas for supporting franchisees and strengthening the company’s brand presence.