Boots takes over Dollond & Aitchison
Jan 29 2009 by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
BIRMINGHAM opticians chain Dollond and Aitchison will be swallowed by Boots – including its long-established Aston headquarters.
Its head office will switch to Nottingham but the impact on the 200 workers at Rocky Lane, Aston, its headquarters since 1969, is unclear.
The merger will create the second largest UK optical chain with 690 branches, employing more than 5,000.
The Dollond and Aitchison name will disappear although it may be retained for products.Today’s announcement comes three months after Dollond and Aitchison closed its flagship Bullring store after nearly five years of trading.
In October the group denied it was in financial difficulties and said it managed to avoid compulsory redundancies among 13 full and part-time Bullring employees.
A statement on the Boots merger today said: “It is envisaged Dollond & Aitchison branches will adopt the Boots Opticians brand.
“Both businesses have a strong heritage and excellent reputation for service and customer care, providing a great opportunity to combine these strengths under one brand with a differentiated product offering.”
Dollond and Aitchison was acquired ten years ago by De Rigo, market leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of high-quality eyewear, and one of the largest optical retailers in Europe.
“Alliance Boots will hold a controlling stake in the new company which will be jointly owned with De Rigo. It will be run as a stand-alone business and it is proposed the headquarters will be based in Nottingham,” the statement said. “In the new business, Pradip Patel (MD of Boots Opticians) will become chairman and Andy Ferguson (CEO of Dollond & Aitchison) will be managing director.”
The transaction, subject to the approval of competition authorities, is expected to be completed in the second quarter.
Maurizio Dessolis, vice chairman, De Rigo, said: “The proposed merger will bring together complementary strengths. We are confident with this opportunity for expansion it will thrive as a leading eyecare provider.”
