Record year for Hans Anders

Dutch optician chain Hans Anders has had a record year in 2015, as turnover grew 8.5 % to 171 million euro and profit even grew an astonishing 40 %. Its 2016 forecast includes another decent growth, thanks to a brand new web shop.

“Best fiscal year ever”

Managing director Remco Boerefijn believes its product range of major brands at low prices is the reason for that growth: “The Dutch retail climate is bad, but 2015 was still the best fiscal year ever in Hans Anders’ 33-year history.” The staff will also benefit from that growth, as the team added more than 80 new colleagues.

Boerefijn feels Hans Anders faces a beautiful future: thanks to new stores, a wider product range, increased focus on hearing aids and a brand new web shop, the chain hopes to continue this streak of record numbers. It will also open about 20 new stores based on its new formula, focused on more experience and additional name brands. “Every remodel operation increases the store’s turnover a lot in the next few months”, the managing director said.

Hans Anders is also active in Belgium and France and has nearly 400 stores, including its Dutch stores. Its Swedish affiliate chain Direkt Optik has another 36 stores, making a total of 1,600 employees in the entire Hans Anders Groep. The company was founded in 1982 and originally focused on glasses and contact lenses, but expanded its product range to include hearing aids in 1999.