All Italy articles
-
ArticleVision Group CEO sees ‘a lot of white space’ to expand store fleet
Vision Group has made expansion through acquisitions a key part of its growth strategy, and there’s no sign that will change anytime soon. Marco Procacciante, the CEO and founder of the eyewear retailer that boasts Italy’s largest network of optical stores Eyewear Intelligence that he sees “a lot of white ...
-
News briefs
Italy’s Anfao, trade unions reach agreement on new labor contract
The Italian eyewear trade association Anfao reached an agreement with trade union representatives on the terms of a new contract affecting the approximately 20,000 workers in Italy’s eyewear industry and covering the 2026-2028 period. The contract foresees a gradual increase in average monthly salaries over the three years, which will ...
-
ArticleItaly Q1 eyewear exports fall 1.5% as industry braces for higher US tariffs
The value of Italian eyewear exports in the first quarter of 2025 fell by 1.5 percent compared to the year earlier to €1,427 million, as the market’s contraction deepened following a 0.6 percent fall in exports in 2024, according to data from eyewear trade association ANFAO. Italian exports of sunglasses ...
-
ArticleItalian eyewear industry warns companies risk survival with hefty US tariffs
Should US President Donald Trump follow through with a threat to impose hefty import tariffs on European Union goods, many Italian eyewear companies could see their survival threatened, warned Lorraine Berton, President of the Italian eyewear association ANFAO. The Trump administration on July 11 announced it would raise the so-called ...
-
ArticleItalian eyewear exports edge down in 2024, industry looks to recovery in H2
The value of Italian eyewear exports edged down by 0.6 percent to €5.236 billion in 2024, as the sector showed resilience despite a steep drop in eyewear sales to the US, by far Italy’s largest single market, according to data released by the Italian eyewear association ANFAO. The value of ...
-
News briefs
ANFAO and other Italian fashion associations sign new support deal with government
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) signed last week a memorandum of understanding with three Italian industry associations to support the country’s fashion companies in their international expansion by, among other things, enhancing the value of the Made in Italy label and reinforcing the fight against ...
-
News briefs
Nau! opens made-to-measure eyewear store in Milan
The Italian optical retailer Nau! said it has opened its first store in Milan featuring its personalized Nau!Me eyewear. The store is located in Corso Buenos Aires, a central Milan shopping district. Nau!Me eyewear is produced in the company’s factory in Castiglione Olona in northern Italy. Nau! claims that its ...
-
ArticleBacked by new investor, Vision Group aims for more acquisitions
London-based alternative asset manager ICG has agreed to purchase a 49.4 percent stake in the leading Italian eyewear retailer Vision Group as part of a management buyout, acquiring the roughly 46 percent stake held by former private equity group backer Arcadia along with shares from other unnamed investors. ICG will ...
-
News briefsMarcolin joins Altagamma
Marcolin has joined the Altagamma Foundation, an organization that, by its own definition, promotes Italian excellence, uniqueness and lifestyle worldwide. Founded in 1992, Altagamma has a membership of 115 companies operating at the high end of a variety of sectors, such as fashion, design, jewelry, food, hospitality, automotive and yachts. ...
-
ArticleFielmann remains committed to Italian market after closures announcement
After reports in the Italian press at the end of last year that Fielmann was preparing to shut down 11 of its 54 stores in the country, the German-based retail group confirmed some closures but remains intent on developing its network in the country. “Fielmann reaffirms commitment to the Italian ...
-
News briefsNew Salmoiraghi & Viganò store highlights Essilux retail sustainability program
EssilorLuxottica has announced that its new Salmoiraghi & Viganò store opened in Milan at the end of last year was being considered for the WELL certification, a standard that “creates and certifies spaces that advance human health and well-being” according to the organization’s website. The new shop, located in the ...
-
News briefs
Jimmy Fairly enters Italy and Spain
As previously announced, Jimmy Fairly is pursuing its international expansion strategy with the opening of its first shop in both Spain (Barcelona) and Italy (Milan) in the last few weeks. The direct-to-consumer brand, which was founded in 2011 and taken over by a French private equity fund ten years later, ...
-
ArticleANFAO taps Lorraine Berton as new president
Lorraine Berton has been elected as the new president of Italian eyewear association ANFAO, becoming the first woman to hold the position and succeeding Giovanni Vitaloni, who had served as president since 2017. Berton will lead the association for the next four years. Berton is the co-owner along with her ...
-
ArticleAn optical center in 15 minutes and a new investor for Vision Group
Vision Group, one of Italy’s leading eyewear retailers, aims to expand its domestic footprint further before looking at eventual growth opportunities further afield. Marco Procacciante, CEO, talked to Eyewear Intelligence about Vision Group’s growth plans, which are aimed at serving 85 percent of the Italian population with a VisionOttica store ...
-
News briefs
Italian consortium OTTIMI reaches over 200 optical shops
OTTIMI, the Italian consortium launched in February 2022 with the aim of promoting the optical sector and “safeguarding opticians” working outside of the large multinationals, said it now counts over 200 optical centers across Italy as members. OTTIMI considers its flagship product to be the training programs it offers to ...
-
News briefs
Charmant partners with Fapi Group in Italy
Charmant Group has announced the signature of an exclusive distribution agreement for Italy with Fapi Group. Initially focusing on the contact lenses’ market, Fapi Group has progressively developed a portfolio of eyeglasses and sunglasses’ brands, most notably through its partnership with Menrad. The Italian company is distributing Charmant’s house brands ...
-
News briefs
ANFAO unveils restricted substances list, elects new president of lens group
Italian eyewear association ANFAO and its majority-owned certification subsidiary Certottica on Oct. 13 unveiled their first Product Restricted Substances List (PRLS) for eyewear. According to ANFAO, the list will be constantly updated and is meant to be a “clear and effective” handbook covering product conformity parameters in the main international ...
-
ArticleItalian eyewear exports maintain momentum in Q2
ANFAO, the Italian eyewear industry association, has reported a 15.7 percent year-on-year increase in Italian eyewear exports to €2,840 million for the first half of 2023 as sales in Q2 roughly maintained the 16.7 percent growth reported for Q1. As reflected in the table below, the momentum was driven by ...
-
News briefsItalian exports maintained double-digit growth pace in Q1
The Italian eyewear industry association ANFAO released preliminary exports’ data for the first quarter of 2023 at its general assembly held at the end of last week in Verona. Italian exports in Q1 were up 16.7 percent year-on-year to €1,388 million, decelerating slightly from the 22.5 percent growth reported ...
-
News briefs
Italy’s Anfao, unions agree on new labor contract
The Italian eyewear trade association Anfao reached an agreement with trade union representatives on the terms of a new contract affecting the approximately 18,000 workers in Italy’s eyewear industry and covering the 2023-2025 period. The contract foresees a gradual increase in average monthly salaries over the three years, which will ...
