ECPs have role to play in Essilor's online future

Essilor has increased its online eyewear retail portfolio with the acquisition of the MyOptique group, which includes popular sites Glasses Direct and LensOn, for an undisclosed fee.

The management structure of MyOptique, which this year reported revenue of £57m, will remain in place, and the company said it would leverage Essilor International's capabilities and supply chain to maintain growth in Europe.

Kevin Cornils, CEO of MyOptique, said: ‘This transaction represents a major milestone for the group. Our new ownership provides a tremendous platform from which to continue to build a very successful business on our proven multi-category, multi-brand model.’

Essilor said the acquisition was in line with its mission to ‘improve lives by improving sight.’ It added that digital innovation had changed the way people purchased products and had helped to raise awareness among consumers about the importance of protecting and correcting their eyesight.