EssilorLuxottica is a Franco-Italian multinational company that dominates the global eyewear industry. Founded on October 1, 2018, through the merger of French lens manufacturer Essilor and Italian eyewear designer Luxottica, the company has become a vertically integrated powerhouse in the ophthalmic sector[3][8]. ## Company Overview EssilorLuxottica designs, produces, and markets a wide range of vision care products, including: - Ophthalmic lenses - Prescription glasses - Sunglasses - Frames - Equipment and instruments for eye care professionals[3][5] The company operates through three main segments: 1. Lenses and Optical Instruments 2. Equipment 3. Sunglasses & Readers[2][5] ## Brand Portfolio and Market Presence EssilorLuxottica boasts an impressive array of well-known brands and retail networks: - Eyewear brands: Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear - Lens technologies: Varilux, Transitions, Crizal - Retail chains: LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sunglass Hut[3][9] The company has a global footprint, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, and Asia. It operates approximately 18,000 retail stores worldwide and generates about half of its sales from North America[9]. ## Financial Performance As of 2023, EssilorLuxottica reported: - Revenue: €25.4 billion - Net income: €2.29 billion - Employees: Approximately 180,000 - 193,690[3][5][7] The company is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange under the symbol "EL" and is part of both the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices[3]. ## Mission and Innovation EssilorLuxottica's mission is to help people "see more and be more." The company aims to eliminate poor vision within a generation by: 1. Reaching 2.7 billion people with uncorrected poor vision 2. Protecting 6.2 billion eyes from harmful rays[9] The company invests heavily in research and development, focusing on med-tech, design, and innovation. It has developed sustainable products like the first bio-based acetate for glasses in the industry[9]. ## Corporate History The merger of Essilor and Luxottica in 2018 brought together two industry giants: - Essilor: Founded in 1849, became a leader in lens manufacturing and optical technology[10]. - Luxottica: Established in 1961 by Leonardo Del Vecchio, grew into a major eyewear designer and manufacturer[10]. This strategic merger created a vertically integrated company covering every step of the eyewear value chain, from design and development to distribution[6]. EssilorLuxottica continues to expand its market dominance through strategic acquisitions, such as the €7.2 billion acquisition of Grandvision in 2019[9]. Citations: [1] https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/ [2] https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/e/essilorluxottica-sa-eur-0.35/company-information [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EssilorLuxottica [4] https://www.globaldata.com/company-profile/essilorluxottica-sa/ [5] https://markets.ft.com/data/equities/tearsheet/profile?s=EL%3APAR [6] https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/group/ [7] https://www.ibisworld.com/us/company/essilorluxottica/429641/ [8] https://quartr.com/insights/company-research/essilorluxottica-global-dominance-through-strategic-acquisitions [9] https://www.triodos-im.com/projects/essilorluxottica [10] https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyewear/essilor-luxottica-frames-eyewear-brands/