EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Sunglass Hut, Oakley and Ray-Ban, among other eyewear brands, and Chalhoub Group, signed a joint venture for the development of direct eyewear retail in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The agreement aims to shape the eyewear category and achieve new levels of customer service by combining EssilorLuxottica’s eyewear expertise, technology and brands with Chalhoub Group’s understanding of the region’s consumers.
Francesco Milleri, chairman and CEO at EssilorLuxottica, commented: “We are pleased to partner with Chalhoub Group to grow the eyewear category in the highly dynamic region that is the GCC. This move will allow us to complement our existing and deeply rooted network of customers in the region, whom EssilorLuxottica is committed to continue serving with high quality products and solutions. Leveraging on Chalhoub Group’s extensive knowledge and retail presence in the region, we will raise the visibility and quality of the entire industry and reinvent the omnichannel consumer journey together, resulting in a more engaging retail experience for consumers.”
Patrick Chalhoub, group president at Chalhoub Group, stated: “As we expand into the eyewear category, we are entering a new vertical that has significant potential for growth and innovation with a high demand from our regional luxury consumers. EssilorLuxottica is a partner of choice with their fashionable, elegant products, and brand portfolio; their core values of helping people to “see more and be more”, alongside their growth ambition in the GCC region, complements our Group’s purpose to inspire and delight customers.”
A series of mono-brand and multi-brand stores will be launched in the GCC for EssilorLuxottica’s core and global eyewear brands, including Ray-Ban, Persol and Oliver Peoples, allowing the brand to expand its global footprint in the GCC region. The luxury multi-brand eyewear concept, David Clulow founded in the UK and known among Middle Eastern consumers from London, will also be introduced with new stores.
