Optical Express buys Pagan Eyecare group

North-East based group Pagan Eyecare has become the latest acquisition for Optical Express. Originally part of the Pagan & McQuade group, Pagan Eyecare optometrist owner Mark Pagan and Optical Express chief executive David Moulsdale agreed the final details of the purchase late last month. The acquired outlets are to be rebranded Optical Express and Mark Pagan has joined the Cumbernauld-based multiple as regional senior optometrist. Staff at the Darlington, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees group were told of the change of ownership at a meeting hosted by Moulsdale on June 24 before the stores opened the next day with new stock and IT systems. Moulsdale said he was delighted to secure this latest acquisition after approaching Pagan some time ago. 'We've actually been in discussion with Mark on and off for three years,' Moulsdale told optician. 'I think it was the increasing competition in the market place that persuaded him to sell the business. Because we were consistent and confidential in our negotiations, he was happy to sell the business to us.' In his new role Pagan will use his experience to support the more recently qualified Optical Express optometrists in the North East, Moulsdale said, allowing him to 'play a bigger role and not have to deal with the day to day hassles of running a business'. Optical Express has bought the three city centre practices Ð bringing the total number of outlets to 167 Ð averaging 1,200sq ft. Previous acquisitions made by Optical Express include the Health Clinic, Specialeyes and Co Op Eyecare. Moulsdale commented that he had been impressed with the staff at Pagan Eyecare, but he believed that Optical Express would grow the business and employ more staff in future. 'With the strength of the Optical Express brand, a stronger product mix, and more marketing spend we expect to grow this business,' he said, 'and one of the demands of that increase in business will be a need to recruit more staff.' He said that Optical Express would make 'significant investment in the new stores' with new IT systems, a new range of product, and shop re-fit upgrades where required. Mark Pagan said he was happy to sell his business to a company that 'shared his views on patient care and quality of product'. 'It's the first time in 20 years I've been employed by someone and so I couldn't sell to anyone I didn't want to work with,' he said. 'What is refreshing is that they want to provide the highest standard of customer service, and the new IT systems they have put in are very impressive.'