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Summary of our market study
The French optics market is worth around 7.5 billion euros.
The global optical market, which includes eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses, was valued at around $200 billion.
This growth is being driven by an aging population, as well as by rising disposable incomes, which are fuelling demand for high-end eyewear products.
The sunglasses segment is particularly dynamic.
Some 67% of the French population opt for prescription eyewear, with a tendency to favor glasses over contact lenses as age increases.
Independent opticians account for 47% of outlets, but only 25% of sales. Cooperative groups, branches and franchises account for 53% of outlets and 75% of sales.
With an aging population and increasing life expectancy, the need for corrective eyewear and contact lenses is on the rise.
French manufacturers, renowned for their high-end offerings, are thriving in export markets, while intense competition is seen among local retailers within the country. Over 260 companies are involved in production.
Healthcare costs related to medical optics account for around 3% of overall consumption of medical care and goods.
Key players in the global optics market
- Esilor Luxottica: an eyewear giant
- Krys: key player in the French eyewear market, distributor and manufacturer
- Optic 2000: a well-established cooperative in the French market thanks to
- Alain Afflelou: well-known network in France
- Atol: another well-known cooperative group.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
The optics market includes items and accessories worn on the eyes. Optical equipment can be worn for a variety of reasons, but among the most common are use as an accessory, to correct visual disorders or to protect the eyes. The three largest categories in the eyewear industry are:
- Eyewear ;
- Sunglasses;
- Contact lenses.
The optical industry thus encompasses all the players and processes involved in the design, production and sale of the aforementioned items. On a global level, the market's growth prospects are very promising, with a growth rate of 8.5% between 2023 and 2030. The aging of the population and the evolution of life expectancy around the world mean that the number of people needing eyeglasses or contact lenses is set to rise. This upward trend is also reinforced by rising disposable incomes, which should continue to drive the premiumization of the eyewear industry in all segments, especially non-corrective lenses.
The market has been affected by the health crisis, with store closures and confinements. However, the optical market is a consolidated one, and despite sales declines in 2020 for many brands, there is little doubt that this vital market will recover.
While many high-end French manufacturers are performing well on the export market, many local retailers are in fierce competition with each other.
2023 was a record year for the optical sector in France (4.5% growth over 2022), and 2024 is full of challenges: rising costs, falling consumer purchasing power, the threat of the PLFSS, low wages for employees in the sector...
1.2 A fast-growing global market
Global market size
Optical market size World, ****-****, in billions of US$ CAGR (***): +*.* CAGR (***): +*.*% Source: ****
The global optical market, which includes eyewear, contact lenses, sunglasses and other eyewear products, was estimated to be worth around US$ ***.** billion in **** and is expected to reach a value of US$ ***.** billion by ****.
There are ...
1.3 A growing national market
The optics market comprises articles, accessories and services relating to eyes and vision, and is generated mainly by the sale of pairs of prescription and sunglasses (***), contact lenses, opticians and optical stores.
Optical market value France, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****
By ****, optical sales have been estimated at *.* billion euros, ...
1.4 Optical foreign trade
Here we consider the data provided by UN Comtrade for the following product categories:
**** **** **** And their sub-categories
These three codes include eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and frames.
Foreign trade in optics France, ****-****, in millions of US$ Source: ****
The chart above illustrates France's trade in eyewear. It shows that France ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Incompressible demand and rising healthcare costs
A large proportion of demand still unaddressed
Figures provided by Santé.gouv show that a significant proportion of the population suffers from uncorrected or poorly corrected vision disorders. This proportion increases with the age of the population: for example, it is estimated that almost **% of women between the ages of ** and ...
2.2 A French preference for glasses
A strong preference for glasses, and age has a major influence
The French and optical equipment France, ****, in percent Source: ****
In ****, **% of French people wear only prescription glasses, and this varies by age:
**% of those aged ** and over **% of **-** year-olds
[***]
What drives the use of prescription eyewear?
Occasions ...
2.3 Sunglasses
In ****, the global sunglasses market will reach ** billion, with ** pairs of sunglasses sold every second. This market is estimated to reach ** billion in ****. [***]
What type of sunglasses?
Do you wear corrected sunglasses for your eyesight? France, ****, in % Source: ****
In ****, nearly one in seven French people (***) wore corrected sunglasses for their eyesight, ...
2.4 Lenses, increasingly popular
French contact lens market to reach around *** million euros in **** [***]. The French contact lens market grew by +**% between **** and ****, representing very intense growth over the period. What's more, it has grown faster than the French optical market, accounting for an ever-increasing share of that market : it represented *% of the market in ...
2.5 Where to buy, online sales: a new distribution channel with advantages and disadvantages
Here are the results of a **** survey about where to buy eyewear:
Eyewear purchase location France, ****, in % Source: ****
Traditional opticians were far behind, with **% of respondents buying their glasses at home, far ahead of low-cost chains (***). In ****, **% of lens wearers said they regularly bought online, and **% of those who didn't declared ...
3 Market structure
3.1 The care pathway and the various healthcare professionals involved
Here's a diagram showing the market structure:
Only an ophthalmologist (***). During the appointment, the specialist examines the eyes through various tests, then draws up the prescription according to the person's specific needs. The first prescription is valid for one year, and once renewed, lenses can be purchased for a further * years. ...
3.2 Optical equipment production in France
The eyewear and contact lens production process
The production sites of the optical market are diverse, from the big leaders established in France to the historic houses and the new brands and start-ups that are emerging. Depending on the range, spectacles and lenses are not all manufactured in the same ...
3.3 Distribution in the optical market
Overview of the optical retailing
Here, we consider the data provided by NAF code **.**A "Optical retailing", which includes the activities of opticians.
Number of establishments under code **.**A France, ****-****, in units Source : URSSAF Workforce under code **.**A France, ****-****, in units Source: ****
In contrast to thelens and eyewear manufacturing ...
3.4 Market players
Lens manufacturers
EssilorLuxottica (***), world leader with its subsidiaries BBGR and Shamir, Hoya (***) Carl Zeiss (***) Rodenstock (***) Seiko (***) Ophtalmic (***) Novacel (***)
This handful of players would account for over **% of the market for spectacle lenses sold in France in ****.
Opticians
Source: ****
A OpinionWay survey in February **** for MPF Conseil revealed the following ranking of ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Market products
General overview
Broadly speaking, the three main sectors of the eyewear industry include :
Eyewear (***) Sunglasses Contact lenses
The product range is broad, and is measured according to the different needs of the eye. Glasses with different types of lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses with polarized lenses or different colors for a specific ...
4.2 Eyeglass and contact lens prices
In the optical sector, price variations are significant and depend on various parameters such as lens type, quality, production location and production chain. The distribution channel also plays a role; glasses can be sold in pharmacies, opticians, supermarkets, etc.
Looking at the data provided by INSEE for the "medical optics" category, ...
4.3 New concepts and new products
New concepts
Relying on digital and "cross channel" devices , brands are developing new store concepts.
Atol, for example, introduced a point-of-sale concept in June **** that relies on digital applications from its Atol Pro to attract new franchisees and strengthen its network.
Atol stores are equipped with an "Atol Pro" digital solution ...
5 Regulations
5.1 The importance of the regulatory environment
Prior to ****, Internet sales of healthcare products (***) were prohibited in France. The European Commission then obliged France to open up the market to online opticians, but the market remained without a legislative framework for several years following this decision. The online sale of optical products was then gradually regulated by a ...
5.2 Reimbursement amounts and coverage
The regulatory environment is of paramount importance in France, and new regulations can alter the structure of demand. The new **** regulations capping the reimbursement of glasses and limiting the renewal of glasses to once every two years are thus said to be responsible for the slower growth in the market since ...
5.3 A new stage in zero out-of-pocket expenses in 2020
From January *, ****, entry-level "no out-of-pocket expenses" offers (***) or CMU-c.
The ***% health care reform offers services and equipment in a specific basket comprising * care categories: optical, dental and audiology. The equipment and services contained in these baskets will be fully covered. The optical and dental baskets in the ***% offer will be available ...
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Optical market segmentation
- Polette
- Optique E.Leclerc
- Lunettes pour tous
- Otiko
- Mister Spex
- GrandVision
- Optic 2000
- MB production
- Optical Center
- Coffignon
- Marcolin (LVMH Groupe)
- Essilor Luxottica groupe
- Afflelou
- Krys Group
- Kering Eyewear
- Générale d'optique (GrandVision)
- Direct Optic (Acuitis Groupe)
- Easy Verres
- Easy Lunettes
- MyMonture
- L'Opticien qui bouge
- Optique Lafayette (Laf Santé Groupe)
- Optical Discount
- Lissac (Optic 2000)
- Thélios (LVMH Groupe)
- Fittingbox
List of charts presented in this market study
- Optical market size
- Proportion of the population wearing glasses and contact lenses
- Optical market value
- Medical optics consumption
- Structure of optical spending
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Latest news
BBGR boosts Seine-et-Marne capacity by 30% to keep pace with growth in Nikon optical lenses - 30/03/2024
- - BBGR is a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica.
- - The company has specialized in optical lenses for over 170 years.
- - BBGR will increase capacity at its Provins site by 30% from April.
- - The Provins site employs 235 people.
- - The aim of this capacity increase is to meet strong demand for Nikon lenses, produced at Provins since 2016.
- - Since 2016, volumes of Nikon lenses manufactured at Provins have increased 15-fold.
Krys Group puts the finishing touches to the modernization of its Bazainville plant - 08/03/2024
- -Investment in expansion and modernization program: 23 million euros
- - Post-renovation manufacturing capacity increase: 30%
- - Planned production capacity: 1.8 million units per year
- - Krys Group sales in 2023: €1.265 billion
- - Number of associates: around 900, representing 1,600 points of sale
- - Supplying around a thousand independent opticians
- - Krys Group plans to open 400 additional stores by 2028.
EssilorLuxottica passes the €25 billion sales mark - 15/02/2024
- In 2023, the company spent 1.7 billion euros on R&D between 2020 and 2022, in particular to develop connected and/or hearing glasses. Before the summer, the company will inaugurate an optics laboratory (300 employees) in Wissous (Essonne). In the second half of 2024, its first hearing glasses will be marketed in the United States.
- The product potentially concerns the 1.25 billion people affected by mild hearing loss.
- To integrate a miniature hearing aid into a pair of glasses, the company acquired the Israeli start-up Nuance in 2022.
- Its brand portfolio has expanded to include Moncler, Jimmy Choo, Brunello Cucinelli and Ferrari licenses.
- 18,000 directly-operated stores in 150 countries, including 1,000 in France.
Krys group: innovations for the ecological transition - 06/02/2024
- Codir, a subsidiary of Krys Group, grouping together its industrial and logistics activities, will produce 1.4 million lenses by 2021
- The subsidiary employs 330 people
- Krys Group generates sales of 1.2 billion euros, and has 1,533 stores in France, as well as around 50 in Belgium, Poland and Morocco.
- With its two other banners, Le Collectif des lunetiers and Lynx Optique, the Group has a 16.5% market share in France.
- Its ambition is to open a further 400 outlets by 2028.
- Over the past ten years, it has expanded into the hearing sector, with 277 centers.
EssilorLuxottica integrates a hearing aid into its glasses - 09/01/2024
- Launch of "Nuance" glasses that act as hearing aids.
- Microphones camouflaged in the frames enable the wearer to concentrate on and amplify the voice of the person speaking
- First equipment with virtually invisible hearing aids
- While 1.6 billion people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, this figure is expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050
- Nuance Audio glasses, which will be available in three models, will be sold by hearing aid practitioners, in EssilorLuxottica's distribution network (18,000 stores) and on the Internet.
- Acquisition of Israel-based Nuance Hearing, which has developed a small tabletop device that amplifies sound
Afflelou innovates: discount, private labels and teleconsultation - 04/12/2023
- Brand stores grew by 5% in the fiscal year to July 31, to 876 million euros, of which 64% in France, 26% in Spain and 10% in other countries such as Switzerland and Belgium.
- In France, performance in the optical sector was 6.4%, outperforming the market, which grew by 4.1%.
- The family increased its shareholding to 30% with the purchase of the Apax Partners fund's stake.
- Optical eyewear accounts for 92% of sales, while hearing aids account for just 8%.
- Of the group's 1,440 outlets, 510 are equipped with a dedicated hearing aid area.
- The company has set up teleconsultation booths in 180 stores, with 10,000 teleconsultations to be carried out by 2023.
- Prescription optical sales account for 82% of business.
- An identified potential of 150 new units in France and 75 in Spain, and an increase of 45 openings in one year.
- Afflelou's own-brand products already account for 60% of the offering.
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the optical market | France
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