Five Towns Optical lab calls in the receivers

Stoke-on-Trent-based prescription laboratory Five Towns Optical is understood to have ceased trading and its affairs handed over to the insolvency practitioner Moore Stephens.

Rumours about the future of Five Towns have been circulating for some time and Optician understands from customers and suppliers that it has now stopped trading and has entered into a voluntary arrangement for liquidation or receivership.

A letter, dated January 19, from Moore Stephens was sent to creditors informing them of a meeting of creditors to take place on February 9. One creditor said he had no idea what had caused the problems at the firm but he expected more details to emerge at the meeting.

Five Towns Optical is a full service prescription and glazing lab offering surfacing and glazing along with online edge and fit, plus order tracking. It is a Varilux specialist lab, a member of the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians and is also part of the Transitions network. Five Towns also advertises on its website arrangements with a number of frame suppliers to offer all-in glazing packages.

The family-owned business was founded in 1959 and serves third party practices in the Stoke-on-Trent area, along with its own network of practices. The lab is understood to be well equipped and boasts Nidek robotic edging and Loh computer-aided centration and blocking technology. Early last year the firm took delivery of two Mr Blue edging systems from Essilor.

Suppliers and customers contacted by Optician said they understood that Five Towns had voluntarily handed over control of the business but did not know of any specific problems the firm may have suffered.

As Optician went to press, no one from Five Towns could be contacted at its business addresses and Moore Stephens had yet to respond to Optician’s enquiries. However, it did not dispute the fact that Five Towns had ceased trading.