Vision Express to increase joint-venture sites by half

The announcement will bring the total number of joint-venture sites to 72, and will introduce Vision Express's franchise scheme to the Republic of Ireland for the first time. The first wave of new joint ventures will open in Basildon (Essex), Hounslow (Middlesex), Eastbourne (East Sussex), and Newbury (Berkshire), with a site in Limerick planned for later in 1999. 'The eye care market is changing rapidly,' said Peter Watson, joint ventures director, 'and we are increasingly being contacted by opticians who are considering a joint- venture partnership as a way of developing their optical career and realising their business potential with the support of a leading optical retailer.' Other sites are as yet undisclosed, but Vision Express has stated it is planning joint ventures in Chesterfield and Stockton later in the year. 'We have already helped to establish around 50 successful joint- venture operations in the UK,' said Mr Watson. 'The backing from Grand Vision, the French optical giant, means we can offer more optical professionals the opportunity to become part of the scheme.' Vision Express already has five wholly company-owned sites in the Irish Republic: three in Dublin, and Galway and Cork .