Multiples study the US market

Representatives from Boots Opticians, Leightons, Vision Express and Optical Express were accompanied by Lundy Fields, Ciba's optics business unit director and Marcella McParland, the company's professional service director, on the four-day trip. The group travelled around the Atlanta area to visit production facilities for Ciba's Focus Night & Day, Focus Visitint, and daily disposable lenses. Mr Fields commented: 'We were also looking at US retailing trends, especially Wal-Mart and new supply channels, and how they each approach the market.' The group was also able to scrutinise a recent review of market research in the contact lens sector in the US, for future trends that might follow in the UK market.