9Round has announced the finalization of a deal to bring the brand to South Korea, with the first location expected to open in 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome South Korea to our roster and to continue to expand our presence across the Middle East,” said Shannon Hudson, founder and CEO of 9Round.
“We look forward to continuing our close relationship with our Middle Eastern master franchisee and we expect 9Round will be a good fit for South Korea with its appeal to customers, small real estate footprint, efficient business model and proven international scalability.”
According to the master franchise agreement, the brand intends to open 160 locations throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (“MENAT”) and 40 locations in South Korea over the next several years. There are currently 43 locations operating in the MENAT area, and 9Round projects 200 locations to be open by 2034.
“As we continue to grow the brand’s presence, it’s only a matter of time before people in all corners of the world can access 9Round to become stronger, both mentally and physically, in 30 minutes,” said Hudson.
In addition to the 17 countries where 9Round is currently open and operating, the brand has secured agreements for future expansion in six additional countries outside of the Middle East and South Korea: Europe, Oman, Egypt, Panama, Indonesia, and Qatar.