From a garage to a multi-billion dollar fitness and wellness empire
Italy-based Technogym opens first showroom in Singapore, with an eye on stamping greater mark on Asia
Lee U-Wen
WHEN Nerio Alessandri first designed his first piece of gym equipment in his father’s garage 40 years ago, little did he know that he would one day run Technogym, a global fitness and wellness giant that’s listed on the Milan Stock Exchange and now has more than 50 million users in over a hundred countries.
The charismatic Italian, now 62, hardly looks like as if he intends to slow down any time soon.
Technogym, of which he is the president and founder, is one of the world’s most popular gym equipment brands. Its sleek treadmills, exercise bikes and benches are a mainstay at the fitness centres of many international hotels, gym chains and private homes.
The Cesena-based company is also a longstanding partner of the Olympics, having been the official supplier of eight Summer and Winter Games since 2000, with the latest being the Tokyo Games held two years ago.
As he presses on with Technogym’s global expansion, Alessandri says he is eager to stamp a greater mark in the key cities of Asia, a region where he feels there is vast potential for growth.
Earlier this week, he was in town for the official opening of the first Technogym in Singapore – a 6,100-square foot building along Mohamed Sultan Road near Robertson Quay.
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The double-storey experience centre is both an office, as well as a showroom where individual and corporate customers can browse and try the latest equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes and benches.
There is a team of personal trainers and interior designers on hand to offer bespoke consultancies on personalised solutions, both in terms of exercise programmes and interior design.
BT Weekend sat down with Alessandri to find out why he’s such a firm believer in fitness and wellness, and how he walks the talk everyday as he heads this growing business with 2,500 employees on the payroll.
The pandemic wasn’t kind to many businesses, but it was quite the opposite for Technogym. How did the business perform in the last three years?
Since we started the business 40 years ago, we have grown without any acquisitions. The growth is all organic.
The year 2020 was tough, because everything was closed (due to lockdowns) – corporates, hotels, fitness clubs, everything. But overall, (our growth) over the last three years has been in the double digits. We started our recovery in 2021 and last year was strong for us too.
After the pandemic, we’ve seen new business opportunities due to the hybrid work model. In the past, people would only exercise at the clubs or gyms. Now they want the equipment and the training programmes at home, because they are working from home too.
You’ve been in this line for almost all your adult life. Why are you so passionate about health and wellness?
We are out to spread the message of “Let’s move for a better world”, and that’s the legacy we hope to leave behind. I believe that people everywhere should live a good lifestyle, and that means regular exercise, consuming natural food, and having a positive mental approach. That’s the balance we should all aim to have.
And it all starts with movement. People are born to move. Our ancestors used to walk as much as 25 km a day, but today, on average, we walk just 1 km.
From what we see, the obesity rate is going up, especially among children. There are more people leading sedentary lifestyles, smoking, consuming alcohol, having bad nutrition, and feeling stressed. This comes at a huge cost to governments, corporates and people.
Technogym can be that enabler, with our technology and our ecosystem. We are doing what we can to spread the message that anyone can live the wellness lifestyle anytime, anywhere.
Why did you decide to open a Technogym in Singapore?
Singapore is the perfect fit for us in Asia. The culture of fitness and wellness is already there, and there is a high level of awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle – about food, movement, prevention, going for regular check-ups and screenings, and so on. Singapore is different from other cities I’ve been to, and the people here are ready to understand our philosophy and the solutions we offer.
Having this physical space is a signal that we believe in this country, and we want to stay for the long term. It’s not about going through the distributor any more. We are now on the ground, with a direct link to our customers.
How do you stay fit and keep in shape?
I exercise regularly, at least three to four times a week. When I am in Italy, I work out at my home gym or at the Wellness Centre at the Technogym Village in Cesena.
I enjoy running and cycling, testing out all the different types of equipment at the gym, and going on long walks or hiking. I love being outdoors.
As for my food, I follow a Mediterranean diet - that means plenty of vegetables and fruits, plant-based dishes and whole grains. I’ve maintained my weight, between 72 kg and 74 kg, for the last 40 years.
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