STRONG Pilates rows into Canada with first studio launching in Toronto

Fast-growing Rowformer fitness franchise STRONG Pilates has launched plans to roll out 60 studios in Canada over the next five years with the first to be opened in Toronto in November, joining 100 studios confirmed across the UK, Asia, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Founded in Melbourne in 2019 by former F45 franchisees Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, the company's fitness model combines low impact Pilates with high intensity cardio with an innovative 'Rowformer' machine.

In the year to date, the company has opened three new studios in NSW including a flagship location in Sydney’s CBD, 11 studios in Western Australia and three studios in the UK led by former Australian cricketer, John Hastings.

In March, STRONG announced a partnership with Yoga Movement to open 11 new STRONG studios in Singapore over the next three years. Ramsey told Business News Australia at the time that plans in North America were already in the works, and that a master franchise for Canada had been onboarded.

"Canada’s fitness industry is expected to grow by 171 per cent by 2028 and in recent years, has attracted an influx of boutique fitness brands," the co-founders wrote in a statement.

"This market presents an exciting opportunity for STRONG and with gym-goers looking at new fitness formats, we are certain there’ll be mass uptake."

Ramsey and Armstrong saw a strong entry point in Canada for the franchise given more than 60 per cent of the country's population exercise each day, with increasing demand for classes that combine functional movement with cardio.

STRONG’s entry into Canada will be closely followed by expansion news on additional new territories in the coming months, with expansion into the US a focus for 2024.

Michael Ramsey won the 2022 Australian Young Entrepreneur Award - Fitness and was featured in the 2023 Australia's Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs list.