Top 10 optical chains in the UK - 2016

How we arrived at the figures

Where figures were not supplied by the companies involved estimates have been made based on industry contacts, reports or the latest published figures used where comparable. This report is designed to provide a snapshot of the £3bn retail optical market and should not form the basis of any financial decisions.

Optician thanks those companies that made their figures available. Where estimates have been made they have been made in good faith and do not supersede any official figures.

Specsavers

Doug and Dame Mary Perkins pioneered their joint venture partnership model 32 years ago and have since become a familiar sight in UK high streets, offering affordable eye care, in-house brands and now DVLA screening services. Of its 17.3m customers in the UK, 60% are from the NHS. The company is the largest provider of free NHS digital hearing aids. Doug Perkins has repositioned Specsavers to provide more enhanced optical services within its practices. The company now has 1,700 partners in the UK and Republic of Ireland – with 548 in place for at least a decade. Each store is part-owned and managed by its own directors, who are then provided with support services including marketing, accounting, IT and wholesaling.