All articles by Pierre-Marie Bernard – Page 5
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ArticleTopcon reports 9% annual eye care sales increase ahead of delisting
Reporting its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, Topcon Corporation has announced a 9.1 percent year-on-year increase in revenue to 84.3 billion Japanese yen (€512.3m) for its Eye Care business unit. In constant currencies, the group’s topline progressed by 7.5 percent versus FY 2023-24. In Q4, ...
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ArticleEssilorLuxottica to increase its lens capacity in France by 40% with new industrial site
French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated yesterday EssilorLuxottica’s Excellence Rx Laboratory, or Labex according to the group’s terminology, a new industrial facility located in Wissous, in the suburbs of Paris and close to the company’s Innovation & Technology Center in Créteil. EssilorLuxottica stressed that the laboratory, which spreads over 16,000 square ...
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ArticleMarcolin aims for greater supply chain control, reports positive Q1 results
Quarterly sales were up by 1.3 percent year-on-year on a scope and currency comparable basis, with EMEA as the main driver. In its latest annual report, the group provided more details on its FY 2024 performance as well as on its commercial and industrial organization.
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ArticleSafilo returns to growth in Q1, details supply chain adjustments
Sales increased at a low-single digit pace in Q1 in both North America and Europe. Gross profit and adjusted EBITDA margins also inched up. During the results presentation, the company’s management detailed its US tariff mitigation strategy.
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ArticleEssilorLuxottica to turn eyewear into a service platform and frames into ‘wearables real estate,’ shareholders hear
In the company’s annual shareholders meeting, Chairman and CEO Francisco Milleri detailed how Essilux is progressively shifting from a hardware-oriented to a service-oriented business centered on AI and medtech. More acquisitions in the AI, chips design and eye surgery sectors are into the group’s deals pipe for 2025 and 2026. The company is taking a cautious approach to US tariffs supply chain adjustments.
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ArticleHOYA reports positive Q4 results, discusses general strategy, US tariffs
The group’s eyeglass lens and contact lens sales were up by 5 percent in Q4 and by 4 percent in the full year compared to fiscal 2023-24. The Life Care’s segment profitability improved significantly in Q4 after it dipped in previous quarters as the company prioritized sales recovery following the severe IT incident at the start of the fiscal year.
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ArticleFielmann Group share price jumps on strong Q1 and FY2025 outlook
It was a busy trading day on the eve of May Day at the Frankfurt stock exchange for Fielmann Group shares, whose price jumped by 13 percent on the previous day, while trading volumes, which had been hovering at around 40,000 shares in the previous days jumped six-fold to 264,000. ...
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ArticleAmazon-backed autofocus glasses startup raises $36m, aims for distribution in the ECP channel
The raised capital will enable IXI to continue its product development and to kickoff its commercial operations. The strategy is to distribute primarily through the optical retail channel. The company is looking to disrupt the market with its technology aimed at replacing progressive lenses.
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ArticleDebate on eyeglasses reimbursements heats up again in France
The federation of private health insurances wants to extend their clients’ refund period rights for eyeglass purchases from two to three years. The French opticians association has expressed strong reserves.
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ArticleEssilorLuxottica adds price hikes to US tariffs mitigation arsenal, reports strong Q1 performance
The industry leader is planning to increase its prices in the US but mostly counts on its ongoing supply chain diversification and innovation and M&A pipelines to mitigate the impact of US tariffs. Q1 revenue was up by 8 percent at constant rates, driven by the DTC division.
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ArticleThe Vision Council highlights change in US customs tactics, analyzes supply chain scenarios
TVC details the impact of the US administration’s trade policy changes on eyewear supply chains, and sends a delegation to the White House to advocate on behalf of its 500+ members and the eyewear sector at large.
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ArticleMixed feelings in Fukui over ‘Made in Japan’ eyewear amid export surge
Exports of Japanese eyewear products have strongly rebounded in recent years, lifted in part by the growing popularity overseas of the Made in Japan label, notably in the US and Europe. However, a recent survey, as well as an initiative by the Fukui eyewear industry association, shows mixed feelings over the country-of-origin label in the region. Meanwhile, the shortage of workers and the increasing number of subcontractors closing shop remain important challenges for the local industry.
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ArticlePPG Optical grows with legacy products and innovations, looks for more sustainable processes
Amy Mercante, General Manager Specialty Products, discusses the performance of the group’s optical division and other industry topics including smart eyewear, additive manufacturing and sustainability challenges in the lens supply chain.
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ArticleEyewear stocks down by 2% in Q1, and by 10% since April 2
We are publishing here with a slight delay our quarterly chart on the evolution of the stock prices of eyewear companies. The reason for us delaying this update was the scheduled announcement of US President Donald Trump’s new reciprocal tariffs on April 2, which was certain to impact stock markets ...
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ArticleUS tariffs turnaround brings the sector some relief but raises questions on spillover effects, 'de-risking' policies
Combined US Import duties on China-origin optical products now range between 152.5 percent and 178 percent, while most other countries’ reciprocal rates have been lowered to the 10 percent baseline rate for 90 days.
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ArticleEuropean market softness weighs on Inspecs FY2024 results
Slightly correcting preliminary results communicated at the end of January, INSPECS Group has announced that its revenue amounted to £198.3 million (€228.8m) in fiscal 2024, down by 2.5 percent year over year. In constant currencies, the group’s topline was flat versus FY 2023. As shown in our table below, sales ...
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ArticleUS administration focus on transshipments calls for higher vigilance on goods’ country of origin
As transshipments have become an increasing focal point of the US trade policy, we have asked The Vision Council experts questions on the notion of ”substantial transformation” of products, which is the basis of the determination of their country of origin under US law, and on possible issues related to “Made in country X” markings.
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ArticleAiming for critical mass, Groupe Héron plans to almost double sales by 2030
Groupe Héron, the French-based retail group operating in the optical and audition markets, is aiming to almost double its business by 2030 to achieve critical mass, Bernhard Nuesser, Group CEO and Partner, has told us in an interview. Based on an organic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 percent ...
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ArticleHow will US consumers react to higher eyewear price tags?
The announcement by US President Donald Trump of wide-ranging and higher-than-expected “reciprocal tariffs” last week has left the global economy reeling, particularly in Asia where post-COVID supply chain reroutings aimed at “derisking” China became much less relevant overnight. While the situation might evolve quickly, depending on how target countries choose ...
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ArticleMain eyewear stocks down 7% and supply chains in doubt on US tariffs shock
So-called “reciprocal tariffs” announced by US President Donald Trump have sent global eyewear stocks down. The particularly high rates slapped on China and Southeast Asian countries challenge supply chain adjustments made in the last 2 years. Questions on how US consumers will respond to higher eyewear prices abound.
