Fielmann plans further growth

Giant German optical retailer Fielmann increased sales by 14 per cent in the first quarter of this year to 226m and is to expand once more.

The Hamburg-based business, which has 544 outlets across the continent and employs 10,500 people, achieved pre-tax profits of 25m, up 14.7 per cent on 2006. It sold 1.4 million spectacles in the first three months of 2006, and, following changes to health insurance laws in Germany, reported that its free insurance offer with HanseMerkur was developing well.

'Since the offer was launched in October 2004 1.4 million customers have opted for this service,' said a Fielmann spokesman. He confirmed that the company had invested 20m in promoting the scheme to the public.

The business confirmed it intends to grow, and announced that it will open between 120-140 new stores in the medium term, including an outlet in Cologne's Schildergasse, one of Germany's busiest shopping areas.