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Somersault signs agreement to build five new stores in North Carolina and New Jersey
August 9, 2024 // Franchising.com // DALLAS – Less than a year after joining The Little Gym International, Somersault Holdings, a private equity-backed franchise operator, has tripled in size, becoming both the brand’s largest multi-unit franchisee and the largest unit owner within Unleashed Brands’ youth development platform. The group had previously acquired 20 existing gyms and opened one new location, and recently signed a greenfield agreement to build five additional locations in North Carolina and New Jersey. With the development of the new gyms, Somersault will have 26 locations in seven states.
Somersault Holdings launched in August 2023 as Unleashed Brands’ first institutional franchisee in the system. Since then, the group has grown to nearly 300 employees, with a strategic corporate team supporting world-class operational talent to deliver an exceptional customer experience and continue to expand its footprint. Investments in The Little Gym are led by Hidden River Strategic Capital, a private equity firm based in suburban Philadelphia, PA, and Taurus Capital Partners, an operations-focused investor led by Griffin Gordon and based in Chicago, IL.
“We are thrilled to continue to grow this impactful child development brand nationwide, having already seen tremendous success in the gyms we have acquired,” said Gordon. “The professional support we have received from Unleashed Brands over the past year has exceeded our expectations. With the significant investment in infrastructure, technology and marketing going into the franchise system, we are excited about the future of Unleashed Brands and The Little Gym.”
Somersault owns and operates its locations in three main regions: the Pacific Northwest (Washington), the Mid-Atlantic (North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) and the Northeast (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). Under the new agreement, the group will open new gyms in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and Eastern New Jersey markets.
“It has been exciting to watch Hidden River, Taurus and the Somersault team strategize, build and grow a professional business structure within The Little Gym and Unleashed Brands system,” said Josh Wall, Chief Growth Officer of Unleashed Brands. “We have complete confidence and enthusiasm in Somersault as they continue their impressive growth trajectory.”
Nancy Bigley, Brand President of The Little Gym, added, “The Somersault Group’s business acumen and passion for highlighting The Little Gym’s mission and brand in each of these communities over the past year have been incredible. Their continued growth within the system is a testament to their commitment and strategic efforts.”
The Little Gym is the world’s leading activity center for children ages four months to 12 years and is part of the Unleashed Brands youth development platform, which also includes Urban Air Adventure Park, Sylvan Learning, Snapology, Class 101, Premier Martial Arts and XP League.
For more information about franchising with The Little Gym, visit https://www.thelittlegymfranchise.com/.
About The Little Gym International
The Little Gym International is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at every stage of childhood. The very first location was founded in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. Headquartered in Bedford, Texas, The Little Gym International was founded in 1992 as a franchise for The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International has nearly 400 locations in over 31 countries, including the United States, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Thailand and more. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.
About Unleashed Brands
Unleashed Brands currently includes the portfolio brands Urban Air, The Little Gym, Sylvan Learning, Snapology, XP League, Class 101 and Premier Martial Arts and was founded to curate and grow a portfolio of the most innovative and profitable franchise brands that help kids learn, play and grow. Over the past 10 years, the Unleashed Brands team has built a proven platform and expertise in scaling businesses focused on serving families. Its mission is to impact the life of every child by providing fun, engaging and inspiring experiences that help them become all they are meant to be. For more information, visit UnleashedBrands.com.
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Media contact:
Sarah Faiwell
Fishman Public Relations
(847) 945-1300
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