Rebranding with confidence

Boots' merger with Dollond & Aitchison was the biggest optical story of the year and one that took everyone by surprise. Optician talks to managing director Andy Ferguson about mergers, culture and the future of optics.

Experience warns you not to expect hyperbole from Andy Ferguson but even the fastidious Scot, now at the helm of the UK's newest superoptical, could be forgiven for getting a little excited about his new role.

Finding out about the deal which created the 690-strong chain also brought other emotions into play. 'Initially for me it was surprise,' explains Ferguson, 'quickly followed by, fantastic, this could be a real credible force to challenge the dominance of Specsavers. Together the two have the benefits of scale, on our own we wouldn't have the scale or the capability to challenge that.'