Fielmann, the giant European optical retailer, maintained its healthy profitability in 2001, despite pre-Christmas warnings that its returns would fall below expectations.
The German company, which has 447 branches across Europe and plans to open 50 in the Netherlands, the latest country it has entered, achieved sales of E758m (£463m) last year, E8m above its forecast.
A spokesman for Fielmann said this week the company remained on course for profits of E39m in 2001, and revealed the company had sold five million pairs of spectacles in the 12-month period.
ÔWhile we calculated that the rest of the optical industry experienced a fall in the number of spectacles sold by 3.8 per cent, and a drop in sales of 0.6 per cent,Õ he said, Ôwe increased market share both in terms of unit sales and sales despite the downturn in the economy.Õ
The company improved its market share to 22 per cent for sales and by 42 per cent for unit sales.
ÔIn February 2001 we entered the Netherlands and anticipated a market share of 25 per cent for unit sales Ð 400,000 pairs of spectacles Ð and sales of E100m, or 13 per cent of the market,Õ the spokesman continued.
Fielmann, which was reportedly considering entering the UK optical market, invested E32m in a new production and logistics centre in Rathenow, Germany.
The high-tech surface grinding facility will produce over three million lenses this year for all types of finishing.
ÔMore than five million pairs of spectacles are delivered to our branches in Europe via Rathenow,Õ said the spokesman, Ôand we are already forecasting that the centre will contribute positively to our results in 2002.Õ