GfK finds top European growth among lenses

Lenses continue to underpin the European optical market while licensed brand frames and sunglasses suffer as new designers and house brands command more of the market.

According to market research company GfK the European market for optical goods is holding up with growth in Germany and France but decreases in Italy and Spain.

Presenting its findings on the European big four of Germany, France, Italy and Spain, GfK’s head of spectacle research Giampaolo Falconio said the market remained stable in the first half of 2013 with sales of €7.3bn just 0.7 per cent up on the same period last year.

While most European economies had a negative outlook, Falconio said there were clear areas of growth within the optical market that optical practice could take advantage of. Despite the UK not being in the group considered, he said the same trends held true for the UK optical market.