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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

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

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

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.

UW CORE Seeks to Expand Canadian Optometric Research Practice Sites

In order to satisfy an expected increase in demand for ocular science research, UW’s Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) is pitching high volume contact lens and/or dry eye Canadian optometric practices to serve as clinical study sites.  CORE Director, Lyndon Jones is eager to work with more Canadian practices and leverage the “phenomenal eye care practices located across Canada.”

While studies may include new contact lens materials, solutions and designs, and new dry eye management therapies using various pharmaceuticals and devices, some practices may be ideal for data collection. Practices do not require previous clinical trials experience.

Interested practices can contact CORE @ (519) 888-4742 or CORE@uwaterloo.ca.

In the image above: CORE Clinical Scientist Dr. Alison Ng and Dr. Andrea Lasby from Mission Eye Care in Calgary, Alberta.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

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