By Georgie Binks
The new year is the time for consumers to refresh their health and wellness goals, and personalized care is trending in this ever-growing industry space. Whether it’s massages, healthy supplements, IV-drip bars, or fitness, each of these franchisors is working to fill that need.
Nutters Everyday Naturals
When Nutters Bulk and Natural Foods opened in 1982 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the bulk food company was full of bins of nuts—thus the name. Today, some 44 years later, the company now known as Nutters Everyday Naturals has 28 stores and a different focus. President Brad Winsor says, “We’re focussed on healthy living.” The product mix, he says, is 60 per cent supplements, 10 per cent personal care, and the rest is grocery.”
The franchise is located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with an eye to moving east. Winsor explains, “We are a phenomenal turnkey franchise system. We have some of the best discount programs for any franchise in Canada, high margin products that are our specialty. We support brands and brands support us. Our biggest benefit for the franchisee is our purchasing power.”
For customers, personalized care is a priority. Winsor says, “People are looking for personalized nutrition, gut health, longevity, clean label foods, natural remedies, preventative health, and, most importantly, local trusted retailers.”
Winsor says the franchise has a very strong operational model developed over 40 years with a number of efficiencies introduced in the last five years. He explains, “Most health food stores are independent retailers and don’t have the support. We’ve got merchandising, product innovation, do our pricing at our head office level and our training is next to best in Canada.”
Challenges involve staying on top of industry knowledge and price competition. Winsor says, “We have to have new products coming into our stores and staying on top of the education of those products.”
He also says, “You don’t need a business background, but you need to be people oriented, passionate about the health and wellness industry and be a strong operator who can follow the process.”
Innovative Fitness
Everyone has a different body, and different health needs. That why the personal training franchise, Innovative Fitness, is built around delivering highly personalized coaching experiences.
CEO Matt Leahy explains, “We take a holistic view of health where we look at fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle to help members feel and perform their best. We use industry-leading assessment tools and tailored programming to create experiences that drive meaningful, lasting results.”
Innovative Fitness started 30 years ago in Kitsilano, British Columbia, and began franchising in 2006. There are now 11 studios across B.C. and Ontario.
Leahy says, “We’ve built a proven model that combines strong systems with a people-first culture. It’s designed to help franchisees succeed both personally and professionally.”
Franchise partners benefit from extensive support in training, marketing, and operations, along with a community of like-minded owners who share best practices and genuinely want to see each other win. “Our franchisees get to make a real impact in their communities by helping people live healthier, more fulfilling lives,” says Leahy.
One of the biggest challenges is competing in a landscape filled with what he calls quick-fix solutions and constantly shifting trends.
The franchise takes a hands-on approach to supporting franchisees. “From day one, we work closely with each owner to help them set up their business, build a strong team and create a great member experience. Our systems, training, and ongoing coaching are designed to simplify operations so franchisees can focus on leading their people and growing their studio.”
Top performers in the system are hands-on, community focused operators. Leahy says, “Our network of owners share best practices and support one another. At its core, we’re partners in growth. When our franchisees succeed, the brand succeeds. That drives everything we do.”
The DRIPBaR
As the name suggests, the DRIPBaR is a medically directed IV vitamin therapy and wellness franchise focused on cellular health. Danny Grammenopoulos, president of the DRIPBaR in Canada, explains, “We help clients support their health ‘from the inside out’ using carefully formulated IV drips, intramuscular (IM) shots, and complementary wellness services delivered in a relaxing, spa-like environment under clinical oversight.”
Grammenopoulos says drips are freshly compounded on-site in medical-grade hoods ensuring consistent quality which sets THE DRIPBaR apart from operators that rely on pre-mixed products. All services are delivered by trained nurses under the guidance of a licensed medical director. Drips are offered for lifestyle, energy, immunity, performance, and healthy aging. Additional health support drips are used as adjunctive support for people working with their own healthcare teams on issues like cancer, heart disease, or chronic illness, without positioning IV therapy as a replacement for primary medical care.
The DRIPBaR was founded in 2016 in Rhode Island and began franchising in 2019. Today, the brand has more than 125 locations open in the United States and over 700 in development. Canadian expansion was announced in November of 2024, with the first location opening in Barrie, Ontario. There are now more than 20 franchise locations sold across Canada, including multi-unit partnerships in key markets.
Franchisees plug into a turnkey system that includes standardized protocols, along with an independent medical board, pharmacy board, a research and development board continually updating offerings, and a structure requiring licensed medical oversight and trained nursing staff.
Grammenopoulos says, “Operating in a medically-supervised wellness environment means paying close attention to regulations and safety standards. Those elements are naturally part of delivering IV therapy well.”
DRIPBaR has already built a straightforward structure, oversight, and clinical systems, he adds. Franchisees step into a proven framework supported by medical directors and dedicated clinical boards, allowing them to focus on the guest experience and growing the business with confidence.
“You don’t have to be a clinician, but you need to genuinely care about helping people feel and function better and be comfortable working inside a medically supervised model,” he explains. “We see strong fits from healthcare professionals as well as business minded owners/operators.”
He says, “For those who are drawn to the idea of medically supervised wellness and want to help Canadians invest in their health, DRIPBaR can be a very rewarding fit.”
Hand & Stone Massage
Just like many other health and wellness services, Hand & Stone says its customers want that personal touch—and a whole lot more
Anita Wells, senior vice president and division general manager, Canada, explains. “Our brand is built around a holistic approach to health and wellness, combining self-care and well-being into a single, accessible experience. We don’t just offer massage services—we also offer esthetics. Our facials are performed by our expert estheticians and tailored to provide our customers healthy, radiant, more youthful looking skin.”
Hand & Stone was founded in 2004 in New Jersey by John Marco, a physical therapist with a passion for health and wellness. The franchise opened its flagship spa in Canada in 2009 and has grown to more than 650 locations internationally.
Wells says, “The future of our brand is centered on strategic expansion and digital transformation. We’re committed to growing our footprint in key markets through single and multi-unit development and international opportunities.”
Franchisees benefit from a proven business model, comprehensive training, and ongoing support. Some challenges in the industry include navigating local competition and service provider supply and recruiting and retaining qualified staff.
According to Wells, the franchise is investing heavily in technology and data-driven solutions to enhance both franchisee operations and member experience. “Our vision is to remain at the forefront of the health and wellness industry by blending human connection with cutting-edge technology, ensuring franchisees have the tools and support to thrive in a changing market.”
Successful franchisees are passionate about health and wellness, strong leaders with people management skills, business-savvy with a growth mindset, and comfortable with systems and performance metrics.
She adds that, “While industry experience is helpful, we’ve seen great success with franchisees from diverse backgrounds including corporate leadership, finance, hospitality, and education.”
