Newmark Retail UK & EMEA has advised French optician and audiologist Optical Center on entering the UK market, securing its first 10 stores in London.
The most recent store opening in the capital is located at 42 Braccan Walk, Bracknell and spans over 2,000sq ft, featuring in-house opticians, optometrists and audiologists as well as high-end brands of eyewear to choose from such as Ray-Ban, Oakley and Gucci.
Alongside the store in Bracknell, the other new locations it has acquired in London and the surrounding area include Tottenham Court Road, Greenwich, Colliers Wood, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Borehamwood, Staines, Harlow and Richmond – all of which were facilitated by Newmark.
Founded in Paris in 1991 by Laurent Lévy, Optical Center is the leading optician and audiologist in France. Its entry into the UK market marks the first stage of the Optical Center’s growth into English speaking countries as the brand continues its international expansion with more than 5,500 employees in 800 stores across eight countries including in Canada, Spain, Luxemburg, Switzerland and Belgium.
Angus Harper, associate director who advised on the locations, said: “The Optical Center differentiates itself by offering top of the range optical and hearing care equipment in each of its stores as well as selling a wide range of glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses both from premium household brands such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Persol and brands exclusively stocked by Optical Center like Lukkas, Filium, Level and Oscar Version. We look forward to continuing our work with Optical Center to support its international expansion.”
Julie Bernier, general manager at Optical Center, added: “London is the perfect city for the next stage of our growth, with plenty of opportunity to welcome new customers and introduce them to our extensive range of vision and hearing products and services we have to offer.
“We are grateful for the market-leading insight and support we have received from Newmark in helping us open our first 10 stores in London and we are excited about what the future holds for our presence in the UK.”
