Global optometrist chain Specsavers says it will double the number of stores it has in New Zealand in the next year.
The retail chain has opened 30 stores since its arrival in New Zealand 18 months ago and it plans to increase this to 60, after seeing its revenues last year grow by over 50% to $50 million.
Specsavers aims to offer cut-price optometry and glasses, and the franchise's success over the last 25 years has netted founding couple Doug and Mary Perkins a fortune worth Stg 500 million and a place on the United Kingdom's rich list.
Mr Perkins says demand in New Zealand continues to be strong, despite the recession, and it is the only market he knows where Specsavers has never shown a loss.
