Ken Mittel, co-owner of Hirsch Optical.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y.— Essilor is strengthening its position in New York metro area with the acquisition of Hirsch Optical, a major wholesale laboratory based here. The company, which had been owned by Roz Rothstein, Michael Rothstein and Ken Mittel (pictured here), was founded in 1978. It ranked 14th among VM’s Top 25 Independent Wholesale Labs in 2012.

Hirsch Optical generates annual sales of $8.3 million, according to Essilor. It serves customers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The current management team, headed by CEO Michael Rothstein and senior VP Ken Mittel, will remain in place.

Essilor also owns another lab in Farmingdale, Tri-Supreme Optical, which includes a stock lens distributor, The Lens Connection.

“This is a strategic acquisition that allows Tri-Supreme, The Lens Connection and Hirsch Optical to better service the local ECP customers through locally produced digital and AR lenses,” an Essilor spokesperson told VMail. “The cornerstone of our strategy is always our customer, and acquiring businesses like Hirsch with an outstanding reputation for quality and service allows us to continuously improve the service and quality we provide to our customers,” the spokesperson said.