Safilo Group reports first half 2019 (H1) sales are +6.5% and
profits (adjusted EBITDA) +25% versus the same 6-month period in 2018.
Safilo house brands, including Polaroid, Smith and Carrera, out paced the total company showing 8% year over year growth. By deduction, this indicates that licensed brands in total pulled the overall results down. Safilo however highlights licensed in brands Dior, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and Max Mara as key growth drivers.
North America (accounting for 34% of total sales ) made the largest
contribution to growth, pulling in +7.8% on the top line. Asia remains the fastest growing region for
the Group, but contributing only 9% of Group revenue. Europe, Safilo’s largest sales region, showed
modest revenue growth of 2.6%
EssilorLuxottica announced Wednesday an agreement with Hal Optical Investments for the sale of HAL’s 76.62 per cent stake in GrandVision N.V., a global leader in optical retail.
Under the Block Trade Agreement, EssilorLuxottica will buy HAL’s shares for a price of Euro 28 per share, to be increased by 1.5% to Euro 28.42 if closing of the transaction does not occur within 12 months from the announcement date.
Closing of the Transaction between EssilorLuxottica and HAL is subject to various conditions, including obtaining antitrust clearance. The Transaction is expected to close in 12 to 24 months. After the Transaction has been successfully concluded, EssilorLuxottica will launch a mandatory cash public offer for all outstanding shares in the Company, in accordance with the applicable Dutch public offer rules.
Leonardo Del Vecchio, Executive Chairman of EssilorLuxottica commented: “Following the creation of EssilorLuxottica, which I strongly pursued, the acquisition of GrandVision represents the realization of a vision that has guided my actions and the growth of Luxottica over all these years. With GrandVision we will be able to develop our retail network, finally extended throughout the geographies, and fully enable our multichannel and digital platforms. We will raise the quality of in-store experience for products, brands and services for the benefit of all consumers and our wholesale customers.”
Stephan Borchert, CEO of GrandVision: “The future integration of GrandVision with EssilorLuxottica brings new opportunities to GrandVision’s business, its well-established retail banners, stores, employees and all our stakeholders. Furthermore, it will create a truly global eyecare and eyewear company that is ideally positioned to capture changing consumer needs and behaviors, and provide its customers with a high quality optical omni-channel customer experience. This transaction is expected to provide value to GrandVision’s shareholders, while allowing for the acceleration of GrandVision’s growth strategy through the expansion of our store network and online platforms. EssilorLuxottica’s interest in joining forces with GrandVision is a clear recognition of GrandVision’s successful strategy, our state-of-the-art retail platform and our people. We look forward to joining forces with EssilorLuxottica in what will be an exciting new chapter ahead.”
Always on the lookout for the latest innovations, Morel delights in surprises, designing glasses that are astonishing and comfortable with cutting-edge styles. This spirit is particularly apparent in its Lightec frames. This contemporary collection featuring sophisticated details is known for its screwless hinges, exclusive materials and elegant colours.
FYidoctors | Visique, announced the acquisition of all 11 Vision Expert clinics located in Quebec. The first clinics transitioning to the Visique banner are the Bromont, Varennes and Acton Vale clinics.
Collectively, these first three clinics have been servicing
their respective communities for over 50 years. The Bromont clinic, with Dr.
Émilie Martel, Dr. Émilie Chamberland, Dr Charles David Blouin and Dr. Louis
Simon Lavallée, has been in operation for almost 10 years. Similarly, the
Varennes location, with Dr. Louis Simon Lavallée and Dr. Charles Henri, has
also been in business for nearly a decade. The Acton Vale clinic, with Dr.
Josianne Cloutier and Dr. Robert Sylvestre, has proudly been serving its
community for over 32 years.
According to Vision Expert website, the rebrand to Visique began in July.
“We have
always operated under the notion that eye care is to go above and beyond the
simple eye exam,” said Dr. Dary Lavallée, optometrist and spokesperson for
Vision Expert. “When it comes to Visique, we saw a lot of alignment in how we
envisioned the future of eye care to be in addition to their dedication to
patients and track record of success. We’re looking forward to being a part of
something bigger that we believe will ultimately benefit the residents who
work, play and live in our communities.”
FYidoctors | Visique entered the Quebec market in 2017 and,
since then, have acquired 46 locations across the province. Once completing the
acquisition of Vision Expert, Visique will have a total of 57 clinics in Quebec
– notwithstanding additional acquisitions which may occur.
“Expanding FYidoctors | Visique in the Quebec market is
yet another indication of our commitment to growing our brand,” said Dr. Alan
Ulsifer, Chairman and CEO of FYidoctors. “The track record and professional
reputation of Vision Expert in the Quebec market will act as a tremendous asset
in growing our market presence throughout the province. I am thrilled to have
them on board. Adding Vision Expert clinics under the Visique banner allows us,
collectively, to reach the goal of putting eye care back into the hands and knowledge
of those who are most qualified – optometrists.”
All clinics will remain in their current locations during the transition to the Visique banner and will see no decline in services offered. The bannering of the remaining Vision Expert clinics are expected to be completed in October 2019.
SILMO announced the French designer and interior architect
Christophe Pillet will be the Chairman of the Jury for the SILMO D’OR 2019 Awards
After graduating from l’École nationale supérieure d’art of Nice in 1985, Christophe Pillet joined the Domus Academy in Milan to study with the greatest talents in the field. He received his degree there in 1986. While living in the capital of Lombardy, for four years he collaborated with Michele De Lucchi, Carlotta de Bevilacqua and Martine Bedin. He then joined Philippe Starck in Paris, where he worked from 1989 to 1993. Following these diverse experiences, he founded his own agency in Paris in 1993.
“I am not seeking the extraordinary, but rather to reveal what is beautiful and moving in the ordinary,” he explains. This true stylistic signature has earned him a number of prizes and awards, and brought him to work for a variety of clients in furniture and product design as well as the interior architecture of hotels, restaurants, office buildings and mansions…
His elegant, contemporary style is always a delight, whatever the project. Moreover, he never ceases to expand his territories of application. Nothing can stop this workaholic: he loves a good challenge and is buoyed by a natural curiosity of dealing with reality and adding his “French touch”, his understated, humanised aesthetic – never minimalist or cold – without compromising on an interest in innovation and technology.
Pillet does not promote the narcissistic flourishes of a designer seeking to impress. His approach is sensitive and restrained; he is always inclined to first consider the value of an object or place in terms of use before getting involved, never rushing into a project. Which automatically makes him the ideal chairman for the SILMO d’OR jury. He accepted this challenge with enthusiastic interest, especially since he has already had some initial experiences in the world of eyewear: in 2008, he designed a sunglasses line for the 75th anniversary of Lacoste, and in 2017, Vuarnet requested his services for its sports and lifestyle collections.
FYidoctors expands access to dry eye care with a new national program featuring advanced diagnostics, tailored treatment plans and IPL therapy in select clinics.
JOS Titan Bold is a men’s frame crafted from pure titanium, featuring bevelled edges, masculine matte tones, and beta-titanium temples for durability, flexibility, and refined fit.
In today’s workplace, stress isn’t just common, it’s constant. Shifting expectations, increased workloads, ever-changing schedules, difficult colleagues, and the pressure to “perform with a smile” can stretch even the highest-achieving professionals thin.
Vision Expo returns to Orlando in March 2026 as a unified annual event, featuring accredited education, new product launches and a 40th anniversary celebration.
FYidoctors expands access to dry eye care with a new national program featuring advanced diagnostics, tailored treatment plans and IPL therapy in select clinics.
JOS Titan Bold is a men’s frame crafted from pure titanium, featuring bevelled edges, masculine matte tones, and beta-titanium temples for durability, flexibility, and refined fit.
In today’s workplace, stress isn’t just common, it’s constant. Shifting expectations, increased workloads, ever-changing schedules, difficult colleagues, and the pressure to “perform with a smile” can stretch even the highest-achieving professionals thin.
Vision Expo returns to Orlando in March 2026 as a unified annual event, featuring accredited education, new product launches and a 40th anniversary celebration.
FYidoctors expands access to dry eye care with a new national program featuring advanced diagnostics, tailored treatment plans and IPL therapy in select clinics.
JOS Titan Bold is a men’s frame crafted from pure titanium, featuring bevelled edges, masculine matte tones, and beta-titanium temples for durability, flexibility, and refined fit.
In today’s workplace, stress isn’t just common, it’s constant. Shifting expectations, increased workloads, ever-changing schedules, difficult colleagues, and the pressure to “perform with a smile” can stretch even the highest-achieving professionals thin.
Vision Expo returns to Orlando in March 2026 as a unified annual event, featuring accredited education, new product launches and a 40th anniversary celebration.
FYidoctors expands access to dry eye care with a new national program featuring advanced diagnostics, tailored treatment plans and IPL therapy in select clinics.
JOS Titan Bold is a men’s frame crafted from pure titanium, featuring bevelled edges, masculine matte tones, and beta-titanium temples for durability, flexibility, and refined fit.
In today’s workplace, stress isn’t just common, it’s constant. Shifting expectations, increased workloads, ever-changing schedules, difficult colleagues, and the pressure to “perform with a smile” can stretch even the highest-achieving professionals thin.
Vision Expo returns to Orlando in March 2026 as a unified annual event, featuring accredited education, new product launches and a 40th anniversary celebration.
