Despite difficult trading conditions during 2010, the battle for market supremacy between the multiples shows no signs of abating with many of the big chains continuing to open new practices.
Specsavers Opticians revealed that it had increased its number of practices to 653 in the UK from the most recently reported figure of 648 (News 16.07.10).
With the opening of a new Boots Opticians franchise at the Clifton Down shopping centre in Bristol and its merger with Dollond & Aitchison, Boots told Optician that it had 'around 670' optical practices in the UK. Of these Boots said 'around 205' were franchises.
In spite of the economic climate, Tesco's optical division witnessed another year of expansion, increasing to 172 practices across the Galaxy Optical and Tesco network, up from 135 in March 2009 (News 09.04.10). In January 2008 there were 72 Tesco practices.
Tesco added that it was in the process of registering all Galaxy outlets to trade under the Tesco branding.
From February 28, the number of Asda opticians will be 87 after a new practice is opened in Dunfermline. Another supermarket, Costco has also increased its total number of optical outlets from 16 to 22 since March 2008 (News 28.03.08).
Optical Express told Optician that it now had 183 practices in the UK. According to Vision Express, there are currently 326 outlets trading under the Vision Express brand of which 129 are 'joint venture partners'.
Specsavers' market dominance is increasingly under threat, and it hit out directly at its largest rival, Boots Opticians, in January by advertising that Specsavers' digital retinal photography came as part of its standard eye test. In the advertisement campaign, run in the national press from January 2011, Specsavers claimed that Boots charged an extra £10 for the service.
Specsavers stated on its website: 'We don't charge extra for retinal photography. We simply believe that if you are over 40, or your optician recommends you need it, then it should be included.'