The Gym Group has said it will have to push up prices to help offset surging energy bills and costs across its 203-strong chain. The low-cost fitness chain insisted it will still remain among the cheapest in the market even with plans to raise prices this year to combat a 4-6 per cent hike in its costs.
It is bracing for an increase of around £2 million in utility bills over the second half of the year. The firm said while price rises will not fully offset cost pressures this year, it hopes that surging membership numbers will help long-standing sites recover to pre-pandemic sales by the end of 2022.
The Gym Group has seen a surge in membership after it reopened last April and as all Covid restrictions have since been lifted, with numbers growing by nearly a quarter to 718,000 by the end of 2021. Membership has risen further so far in 2022, to stand at 825,000 in February – a 50% jump year-on-year.
