Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In

Placer Bytes: Planet Fitness & Sprouts

by 
Ethan Chernofsky
 on 
May 3, 2021
Placer Bytes: Planet Fitness & Sprouts

In this Placer Bytes, we dive into the recoveries of Planet Fitness and Sprouts.

Planet Fitness Poised For Big 2021

The wider fitness sector is seeing all the signs of a significant offline recovery, and one brand that could be poised for a huge year is Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness, one of our 2021 winner predictions, hit an impressive milestone the week beginning April 12th. With visits up 4.0% compared to 2019, the brand saw growth on a relevant comparison for the first time since the start of the pandemic. And there are several reasons why this accomplishment is especially impressive.

While Planet Fitness has been rising since the retail reopenings began last spring, the company faced unique recovery challenges. The fitness sector aims to bring together lots of people in an enclosed space - something less than ideal for the pandemic environment. And normal routines around work and school were fundamentally disrupted.

Yet, even following those challenges, visits are on the rise, and it doesn’t appear that they will slow down. Looking at visit percentage by time of day for the first two weeks of April compared to the equivalent weeks in 2020 and 2019, shows that the current pattern closely mirrors those from a normal 2019 period. This strongly implies that visitors are back to regular routines, showing that the surge should sustain. Additionally, the jump in April is important as the gym sector normally sees visits decline in the spring, as the promise of New Year’s resolutions begin to fade. The delay and the corresponding pent-up demand could actually drive more activity during a period not known for seasonal strength.

The brand will likely also benefit from the value orientation of its model in a post-COVID environment defined by economic uncertainty. Finally, the struggles of other competitors combined with that reach and value, could position the brand to fill the vacuum left by closing competitors. The result of all this leaves a myriad of reasons to feel even more confident about Planet Fitness’s 2021 potential. 

The Regional Silver Lining for Sprouts

Sprouts has ridden the same waves as much of the grocery sector in 2021 with early strength hit hard by inclement weather before returning in March and April. But, the brand’s recent performance - visits were down just 5.2% and 4.4% the weeks beginning April 5th and 12th compared to the equivalent weeks in 2019 - may actually be obscuring the true 2021 upside.

While visits were down just 5.2% and 4.4% compared to 2019 the weeks of April 5th and 12th, they were down 7.7% and 10.8% in California those same weeks. And considering that California has the largest number of Sprouts locations, a stronger rebound in this state could lead to a significant spike in visits. This means that a full recovery could be just a state’s fuller reopening away.


Can Planet Fitness continue its impressive trajectory? Will further California reopenings drive more visits to Sprouts? Visit Placer.ai to find out.

Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter

Great! Prepare your inbox for data-driven insights...
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
4 Strategies Retailers are Using to Drive Traffic to Their Venues
5 Key Regional Grocery Players Impressing in 2023
Upscale Kitchenware Trending Up
Costco Finds More Room for Growth
Four C-Store Chains Making an A-Grade
National Parks + Outdoor Summer Activities
Diving Into Darden: Summer 2023 Update
The Summer Event Effect
Messi: Massive in Miami
Looking Back on Back to School 2023
The Anchor Recap: August 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: August 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: August 2023 Recap
Placer.ai White Paper Recap: August 2023
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Strikes Again
Big Scoop: We All Scream For Ice Cream
Sports Away: Lululemon & Nike’s Momentum Continues
Summer Visits Heat Up For Recreation and Outdoor Gear Chains
No CSS overwrite - July 2023 Office Index Recap
Staging - August 2023 Mall Indec
Mid-Atlantic Grocery Deep Dive
Experiential Chains Heating Up This Summer
Petco Goes Big by Going Small
Ulta Beauty: Leading the Discretionary Pack
Discount and Dollar Chains Continue to Thrive
Summer of Sports: DICK’s Sporting Goods and Hibbett Sports
Off-Price: Succeeding Into Summer
The Anchor Recap: July 2023
Superstores Maintaining Pandemic Gains Amidst Economic Headwinds
2023: Home Improvement at the Halfway Point
July 2023 Office Index Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: July 2023 Recap
widget test
The Taylor Swift Visit Lift
Southwestern Grocery Dive
July 2023 White Paper Recap: Halfway Point Review & Quarterly Index
Yum! Brands: Driving Dining Visits
Slurpees and Summer Movies Stimulate Consumer Foot Traffic
Cool Beans: Summer Coffee Update
Checking In on Back to School 2023
Crocs and New Balance Tip The Scales
Burger Bliss: Shake Shack and In-N-Out Stacking Visits
Chipotle & McDonald's Continue to Reign Supreme
Vibenomics and Placer.ai Partner to Enhance Retail Media In-Store Measurement
California Grocers Here We Come!
Marriott’s Different Audiences
Bonchon and Kura Sushi Thrive in the Fast-Casual Scene
A Shoe In: Footwear Climbs to the Top
Cheers! Raising a Glass to Beverage Retail
Placer.ai Office Index: June 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index June 2023 Recap – A Turn of the Tide and a Dive into Open-Air Lifestyle Centers
Local Kitchens: Redefining the Restaurant
Unlocking Urban Insights: The Value in Manhattan’s Employees
Ohio State Parks On The Rise
How is Inflation Impacting the High-Income Shoppers?
Five Fast-Growing Dining Chains
What To Expect From Prime Day and July Sales Events in 2023
The State Of Fashion: How Are Apparel Retailers Faring in 2023?
2023’s Latest Dining Success Story: GEN Korean BBQ House
The NBA Finals: A Location Intelligence Perspective
Moving the Market: The Impact of Domestic Migration on Housing Costs
Post-Pandemic Museum Update
The Darden-est Things
The Enduring Demand for Urban and Suburban Retail
Leveraging Data to Evaluate the Impact of Municipal Investments
Trader Joe's Success Amidst Food Inflation and Changing Consumer Behavior
Placer.ai Office Index: May 2023 Recap
Fitness at its Fittest: Staying Strong in 2023
Movie Theaters, Off-Price, and Home Improvement: May 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index - May 2023 Recap
What’s Working for Bath & Body Works?
Why Are Specialty Grocers Thriving in 2023?
The CAVA Craze: A Location Intelligence Perspective on the Mediterranean Marvel
How Will Primark’s US Expansion Impact Target?
All Eyes on Eyewear
Northwestern U.S. Grocery Dive
Return of the Lunch: Salad Chains Are Thriving
Retail Media Networks – Off the Beaten Track
Bet Your Bottom Dollar: Discount and Dollar Stores Drive Foot Traffic
Ulta & Lululemon: Discretionary Spending On The Up
The Score After Q1: Sporting Goods Chains
Who Uses NYC Airports: Biting Into The Big Apple’s Main Transport Hubs
Off Price: Strength in The Face of Retail Challenges
Visits Improve for Home Improvement
Walmart, Target & Wholesalers in Q1 2023 – The Return of Mission-Driven Shopping?
Department Store Roundup: Q1 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: April 2023 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index, April 2023 – A Rebound on the Horizon?
How Will Bed Bath & Beyond’s Bankruptcy Impact the Retail Space?
Buffet Restaurants: Filling Up on Foot Traffic
Thrift Stores: Vintage Visits Drive New Age in Apparel
The Windy City: A Hub of Post-Pandemic Opportunity
Diving into Dining Traffic - Q1 2023
Bring On The Joe
A Dollar (or more) For Your Thoughts: Five Below and pOpshelf
Dining Out With The Cheesecake Factory
Retail Foot Traffic Recap – March 2023
Digging Into 2023: McDonald’s and Chipotle Update
Placer.ai Office Index: March 2023 Recap
How Did Key Retail Categories Perform in Q1 2023?