Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins last week cut the ribbon on a new manufacturing and distribution centre opened by the multiple in Kidderminster.
Located on the site of Stourpoint Five, it consolidated and expanded operations while doubling capacity.
Around 400 staff have been employed at the new site, with 200 more jobs expected to be created over the next five years.
Dame Mary said: ‘Ever since we set up Specsavers in 1984 it has been important for us to oversee our own manufacturing, to be able to control quality and staff conditions while at the same time being able to pass our cost savings on to all Specsavers stores and their customers.’
Construction on the site took 11 months and was completed in November last year. Its International Glazing Services (IGS) and Lens Online operations moved into the two new units in phases completed last month, a statement added.
IGS glazes frames with prescription lenses for Specsavers stores in Northern European countries, while Lens Online stocks and distributes lenses and contact lenses to stores in the UK and Ireland. It also executes the LensMail contact lens delivery scheme direct to patients.
Specsavers also has its Rx lens manufacturing lab Vision Labs in Kidderminster, while other manufacturing and distribution operations in the Specsavers Group include Airways Optical in Eastleigh and NLRX/Hi-Spec Lenses in Kettering.
Simon Holloway, director of manufacturing and distribution at Specsavers said: ‘We are delighted to be operating from our new facilities at Stourport Five. Both IGS and Lens Online have gone through a significant amount of change relocating to the new premises and have continued to deliver excellent service to the Specsavers stores. We are already seeing huge productivity benefits from operating from these premises and have seen a reduction in carbon footprint. Finally, I would like to thank all of the teams involved in making this project go as smoothly as it did.’
The new facility has solar and thermal power energy and a self-harvesting water farm, together with two canteens, a games area and ergonomic work stations.