Blog

January 10, 2019January 9, 2019

Discover the New Essilor See Change Website and Updated Reports

Providing the latest information on their worldwide projects, partnerships and the progress to eradicate poor vision from the world by 2050, Essilor has recently updated their See Change website and report, along with their “Our Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals” brochure.

See Change website was launched for the first time in 2013 with dedicated efforts to reach 2.5 billion people suffering from uncorrected poor vision. Through Essilor’s inclusive business models and philanthropic programs, they will have created 50 million wearers by 2020 and improved the lives of many more. After great progress made over the last 6 years, Essilor recently launched a new website to give more visibility to these activities to eradicate poor vision in one generation.

The See Change update reports on the progress Essilor is making in tackling awareness and access, two of the biggest challenges to vision. Read about some initiatives and actions the Group is undertaking in 2018 and learn more about the lives of people impacted through their vision care programs.

Good vision is a must-have for future global development and impacts all of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The 2018 update provides information on Essilor’s unique contribution to the goals.

Click HERE for the full press release.

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019

CooperVision Acquires Blanchard Contact Lenses, Expanding Presence in Specialty Segment

CooperVision has acquired Blanchard Contact Lenses, Inc., the well-known and fast-growing scleral lens company.

“The acquisition further expands our scleral lens portfolio, extending the way we help improve the way people see each day,” said Juan Carlos Aragón, President of CooperVision’s Specialty Eye Care Division. “Its innovative products, services, technologies and people will augment what we are building with Paragon, Procornea, and Soflex. This creates even more opportunities for CooperVision to partner with eye care professionals (ECPs), and for them to meet a range of patient needs.”

Blanchard, with its network of distributors, enjoys a particularly strong brand position in North America, Europe (including Scandinavia), Central America and South America. Its recently introduced OneFit™ MED scleral lens is being rapidly adopted by ECPs, and the company has grown globally over the past several years, with its products available in more than 20 countries.

“The new relationship with CooperVision will be instrumental in extending our reach and potential, providing access to a broad range of research, operations and commercial resources for the benefit of customers and wearers,” said Jean Blanchard, President of Blanchard Contact Lenses, who will continue to lead the organization. He has also been appointed as a member of the CooperVision Specialty Eye Care global management team.

Founded in 1986, Blanchard has operations in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Manchester, New Hampshire, United States, and employs approximately 70 people. Like CooperVision’s other specialty businesses, it will retain its name and continue to operate as a separate yet complementary organization. Customers should continue to work with their current representatives.

The acquisition includes Blanchard’s U.S. and Canadian entities.

Source: CooperVision

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019

Safilo and Levi Strauss & Co. Announce Global Multi-Year Licensing Agreement

Safilo and Levi Strauss & Co., a global leader in jeanswear, announce their multi-year global licensing agreement for the design, manufacture and distribution of Levi’s® branded eyewear. The agreement will come into effect in January 2020, with collections hitting the market for the 2020 spring/summer season, and it will run until November 2024, renewable for an additional five-years, up to 2029.

“This new partnership is particularly significant for our brand portfolio, the Levi’s® brand being the number one denim brand globally which genuinely appeals to Millennial and Gen-Zers allover the world,” says Angelo Trocchia, CEO of Safilo Group. “With the Levi’s® brand, we add an important opportunity to grow in the contemporary market segment, which is the largest for size and development potential and especially appealing for further development in key emerging markets, such as China.”

“Eyewear is an important product category for the Levis® brand,” said Karyn Hillman, chief product officer for Levi Strauss & Co. “Our partnership with Safilo will allow us to further strengthen our position as a true lifestyle brand by offering amazing eyewear to consumers around the world.”

Source: Safilo

January 9, 2019May 20, 2026

SAFILO Shows Its Love of Women

The company’s first house collection of prescription frames for women caters to those who appreciate premium materials and inventive hinges that deliver a perfect fit. And there’s no shortage of models for the most demanding, independent and urban clientele! Model pictured: Buratto

Distributed by Safilo: www.safilo.com

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019

Safilo Appoints Andrea Zaffin New Commercial Head IMEA

Safilo appoints Andrea Zaffin as Commercial Head IMEA, effective January 2019. In his role, Andrea will spearhead the company’s business in India, Middle East and South Africa and will report to AngeloTrocchia, Safilo Group’s CEO. Andrea will be based in Dubai.

Andrea spent over 15 years at Luxottica setting up the subsidiary in Dubai and building the business throughout the MEA region, thanks to his ability to work closely with distributors and creating with them strong partnerships. More recently, Andrea has worked with Italia Independent in a consultancy capacity with responsibility for the Middle East, Africa & India.

Click HERE for the full press release.