As a legal stoush between two gym owners heads to the High Court today, one of the men involved has pleaded with members to wait for the "full story" to come out in court.
Stuart Holder, who owned three Club Physical gym franchises in Auckland, suddenly rebranded the clubs as "Jolt Fitness" without warning on February 8.
Staff at those locations were fitted with new uniforms, new classes were put in place, and instructors arriving up to take their regular classes were turned away.
Many members have been left confused and angry that the gym they signed up for no longer exists. Those wishing to cancel their memberships, now with Jolt Fitness, are being dealt with "on a case by case basis", the owners said.
Club Physical owner Paul Richards alleges Holder has breached franchise agreements that have "years to run on them" and the matter is being brought before the High Court at Auckland today.