George Gorman.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Meijer announced this week that it has selected U.S. Vision, Inc. as its exclusive vision center operator in its stores moving forward in an effort to enhance its retail health care services across the Midwest.

U.S. Vision, a separately owned and operated company based in Glendora, N.J., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Refac Optical Group. U.S. Vision is currently a tenant in 50 Meijer stores in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, and has plans to open 19 more vision centers in Meijer stores this year. All of its vision centers will be renamed "Meijer Optical" by the end of the month.

The effort enhances the retailer's leadership in providing healthy living solutions to its customers, Nat Love, vice president, Meijer Drug Store, said.

"As a family-focused company, Meijer believes in providing our customers with opportunities to address their health care needs in one stop," Love said. "The Meijer Optical shops will round out the robust services our stores already offer, including full-service pharmacies, health clinics and our free medication program, that meet our customers' needs."

U.S. Vision is a leading provider of vision care products and services in the U.S. and Canada, and represents the sixth largest retail optical chain in country. Meijer began working with U.S. Vision in December 2011.

The Meijer Optical shops are full-service vision care centers, offering brand name frames, the latest in lens technology, contact lenses, sunglasses, ready-made readers and accessories. Optometrists will also be on hand to perform comprehensive eye exams. Most vision care plans are accepted.

"We are very excited about the partnership between Meijer and U.S. Vision and look forward to providing a service that will meet all of the eyewear needs of the Meijer customer," said George Gorman, president and COO of U.S. Vision. "We will be delivering value, convenience, great products and a wonderful customer experience that the Meijer shopper has come to expect." Gorman told VMail, “We look forward to future growth with the Meijer brand.”

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 204 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings.