Doug and Mary Perkins. (0454993)

SPECSAVERS has opened its 100th store in Australia and secured second place in the country’s retail optics market just five months after going ‘down under’.
In one of the fastest retail roll-outs in Australian history, the Guernsey-based firm has another 150 stores planned there by the end of the year.
Specsavers partners have experienced 40% sales growth compared with pre-conversion figures, despite an economic slump having a negative effect on Australia’s retail industry.
Co-founder and chairman Doug Perkins said not many retailers could match their store-opening schedule.
‘Already more than 600 people are employed across our Australian network, which includes our state-of-the-art glazing laboratory in Port Melbourne.’
Bolstering its intention to expand in the Southern Hemisphere, the optical group is poised to open 60 stores in New Zealand.
‘We began to attract significant interest from independent optometrists in New Zealand and their appetite to be part of a global group led by optometrists has accelerated our plans.
‘We see a major opportunity to work with entrepreneurial opticians to drive down the price of eyecare in New Zealand while firmly embedding Specsavers’ values of professionalism, choice and being an integral part of the local community.’