Canadian acquisition for Specsavers

Specsavers has acquired 18 practices in Canada with its purchase of Image Optometry from owner Dr Alan Boyco.

The British multinational which currently operates in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Australia and NZ confirmed to US publication Vision Monday that it had purchased Image Optometry for an undisclosed sum.

Specsavers chief strategy officer Nigel Parke told Vision Monday, “Like many of our existing markets, such as the U.K. and Australia, the optometry industry in Canada is a full-scope, highly regulated environment which we are very familiar with, so it was a logical step for us to welcome Image Optometry and its franchisees, colleagues and customers to the Specsavers family. We are currently assessing how we can help Image to continue to serve customers in British Columbia to make a positive difference to their lives, and in the meantime it’s very much business as usual.”

Specsavers is the world’s largest privately owned optometry group. It was founded in 1984 and now has more than 3,500 optometrists, retail and audiologist joint venture partners who own and operate 2,350 stores, supported by 40,000 store and support office colleagues. Boyco said that he was pleased the business would now “be in the very safe hands of Specsavers, and the fantastic value for money and great eyecare that Image Optometry provides customers each day will continue into the future”.