Melson Wingate links with investor partner

The company, which has 48 branches, has written to employees to say it will shortly announce full details that it is involved in a 'business partnership' with another group. This week chairman Nigel Wingate declined to name the new partner, but confirmed that another company would be involved in the 109-year-old business. 'We have explained to our staff that we are forming a business partnership,' he said. 'They do not know whether it will involve a company from inside optics or outside and I cannot comment further. We're at a stage where we've reached an agreement but it's still subject to contract. However, they do know that Melson Wingate will continue as a separate, identifiable organisation.' Mr Wingate denied that this would be a merger, and said he would continue to have a substantial interest in the company. Melson Wingate has branches in Bournemouth and along the south coast as well as outlets as far north as Sheffield in Yorkshire and Heanor in Derbyshire. Two years ago the company launched a new image at Optrafair, which led to the refitting of its practices to attract discerning patients looking for high quality products and services. The relaunch included a pre-examination eye assessment called 'i-care' in which a dispensing optician would discuss the patient's lifestyle and visual needs before an optometrist became involved.