GUERNSEY, Channel Islands, U.K.—Specsavers confirms it has acquired Canadian optometry business, Image Optometry, from its owner Dr Alan Boyco, for an undisclosed sum. Image Optometry employs 55 people, including a business support team, and operates 10 company-owned and eight franchise stores in and around the Vancouver area of British Columbia. Specsavers is the largest privately owned optometry group in the world. More than 3,500 optometrists, retail and audiologist joint venture partners own and operate 2,350 stores in 10 countries, supported by 40,000 store and support office colleagues.

Specsavers chief strategy officer Nigel Parker said, "Like many of our existing markets, such as the U.K. and Australia, the optometry industry in Canada is a full-scope, highly regulated environment which we are very familiar with, so it was a logical step for us to welcome Image Optometry and its franchisees, colleagues and customers to the Specsavers family. We are currently assessing how we can help Image to continue to serve customers in British Columbia to make a positive difference to their lives, and in the meantime it’s very much business as usual."

Parker added, ‘I have known Dr. Boyco personally through the industry for many years and when we were aware he wanted to sell Image Optometry to focus on his other business interests, we made an approach which proved beneficial for both parties."

Specsavers made the acquisition earlier this year, in March. A spokesperson for Specsavers told VMAIL, in response to a query about future plans, "There are no plans to expand any further than this at present."
 
Image owner Dr Alan Boyco stated, ‘I’m extremely pleased that the amazing health care business that I and the team have built over the years will now be in the very safe hands of Specsavers, and the fantastic value for money and great eyecare that Image Optometry provides customers each day will continue into the future."

Founded in 1984 by optometrists Doug and Dame Mary Perkins, Specsavers cares for the eye and hearing health of more than 40 million people and each year carries out 20 million eye examinations, supplies more than 30 million glasses, 570 million contact lenses, and 450,00 hearing aids.