After exiting his Brisbane luxury car empire, Martin Roller is now focused on the kids fitness sector

A well known Brisbane entrepreneur sold out of his luxury car group earlier this year and, in a surprise twist, has now pivoted to the child fitness sector.

CHILD’S PLAY

He’s back!

A year after announcing plans to exit his Brisbane luxury car empire and then keeping a very low profile, Martin Roller revealed details this week of his new venture in the kids fitness sector.

He has joined forces with industry veteran Dan Newton and the team at MyFirstGym, which launched in 2017 and now operate 10 centres across south east Queensland. All but one are run by franchisees.

Roller and his missus, Renee, have forked out an undisclosed sum for the exclusive rights to develop more sites between Cairns and northern New South Wales.

Their game plan over the next five years is to open another 40 to 50 gyms, which offer a wide range of special activities and development classes with coaches for kids aged from 7 months to 15 years.

Former luxury car dealer Martin Roller.

Unlike its competitors, MyFirstGym takes a “one stop shop’’ approach, providing gymnastics, boxing, dance, martial arts, yoga, ninja warrior and more. Plans starting at $22.95 per week offer a set number of classes and unlimited free play.

Roller got to know the business when his two young ones, aged four and five, started attending one of the centres at Enogerra.

“The kids just have an incredible time. It’s a really great concept,’’ he told City Beat.

As part of his deal, Roller has the right to develop three of his own gyms and he’s on the hunt for suitable sites, including in his stomping ground of Ascot, Hamilton and Clayfield.

Newton, the company’s CEO and co-founder who formerly spent two years as boss of Snap Fitness, has tapped another six regional operators to spread the concept around the country. He’s also making a push into the US and New Zealand.

His two co-directors in the business are Leon McNiece, who was a founder of Goodlife Health Clubs, and Darrin Strauch, who formerly served as a director of Snap Fitness.

“These are industry heavyweights,’’ said Newton, who declined to reveal details about group revenue and growth forecasts.

AUTO FOCUS

Before his unexpected pivot in to the fitness game, Roller quietly kept busy with a few other projects, including taking a stake in local outfit Pulp Juice Co.

But his real passion remains cars and, to that end, he has vowed to re-enter the industry with long-time business partner Marvin Burke after a 12-month non-compete obligation expires on February 7 next year.

The pair have already eyed a site in Brisbane but Roller would not divulge any details about the new venture.

He’s also planning to import electric motorcycles similar to the classic Vespa by the middle of next year and has made reconnaissance trips to Italy and Vietnam as part of that effort.

Roller, who spent more than 30 years in the auto sector, took over Brisbane’s BMW dealership in 1999 and grew it five-fold into a $250 million a year colossus.

After expanding to include Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Volvo, Roller and Burke sold 70 per cent of the business for $85 million in 2014 to Malaysian multinational Sime Darby.

They announced the sale of the remaining 30 per cent to Sime in November last year and the deal came into effect on February 7 this year.

BEER BUYOUT

Is Carlton & United Breweries looking to acquire award-winning Balter Brewing on the Gold Coast?

The south east Queensland craft beer community has been abuzz about the red hot rumour, which spread quickly over the past couple of days. One source floated a figure of about $150 million but others said that was way too low.

Surfing legend Mick Fanning is one of the backers of Balter Brewing.

Neither CUB spin doctors, nor Balter co-founder Stirling Howland, returned calls seeking comment yesterday.

CUB’s parent company, Asahi, bought one of Brisbane’s top craft breweries, Green Beacon, in August for an undisclosed amount, continuing a trend of the major conglomerates snaring independent operators.

Balter only launched in early 2015 with backing from Gold Coast pro-surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr. It now produces some of the best beers in the country.