United PF Partners Acquires 26 Planet Fitness Clubs

Planet Fitness franchisee United PF Partners has acquired 26 Planet Fitness locations and certain development rights in the Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois markets from PF Arkansas LLC, the company announced on June 18. The acquisition increases Austin, Texas-based United PF’s operating club count to 152 clubs across 14 states, spanning the West, Southwest, Midwest, South and Mid-Atlantic regions.  

“The addition of these clubs is an incredible opportunity for United PF to continue our growth momentum and expand our footprint throughout our target development areas,” Trey Owen, CEO United PF, said in the announcement. “This expansion serves as another example of our continued commitment to help the Planet Fitness brand bring affordable, high-quality fitness to more people across the country.”

United PF became the largest Planet Fitness franchisee in November 2016 when it was formed by JLM Financial Partners and Eagle Merchant Partners with the merger of several Planet Fitness franchisees. United PF is a growth-oriented franchisee with plans for club expansion under its area development agreements.

In October 2017, the company purchased The Thomas group in Phoenix and the Sinopoli/Hurring/Siragusa group in New Orleans, noting in a media release at that time that the purchases would "provide capital to fuel club-level improvements and organic growth through the development of new clubs in these markets.”

In September 2018, the company returned to Phoenix to make a second acquisition, this time of a 19-club Planet Fitness franchise.