'Hans Anders Retail Group’ is renamed and continues focus on international growth

'Future-proof, value-for-money eye care for all'

As of tomorrow, the company behind the optician chains Hans Anders, eyes + more and Direkt Optik will be called 'nexeye'. This decision was made to reinforce the group's international growth ambitions and the mutual cooperation between the labels in the areas of digitalization and innovation.

The group also appointed two new executives: On 1 June, Frank Holtman will become commercially responsible for the chain eyes + more at nexeye. He previously was Head of Selling at C&A Netherlands since 2016. Boukje Taphoorn, Chief Marketing Officer/ Chief Customer Officer at Bol.com, joins the Board of nexeye.

The new name and logo of (formerly) the Hans Anders Retail Group.

With the launch of the new group name, the board redefined its international growth objectives. Investments in digitalization, omnichannel innovations, product development, procurement and ESG policies enable current and potential future labels on the nexeye platform to benefit from pooling their forces and accelerated growth. This will allow nexeye to continue to make good, affordable eye care available to everyone in several countries in Europe.

Growth, digitisation and innovation

Despite COVID, nexeye's store count has nearly doubled from 370 to 720 over the past three years. The company now operates in five European markets (the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Sweden).

eyes + more, the optical chain acquired by the Hans Anders Retail Group in late 2018, has grown by more than 100 stores in 5 years.

Far-reaching investments in digitalization and innovation are another reason the optician group has grown significantly in recent years. The various labels have innovated considerably in the online orientation and purchasing process, and have implemented a hybrid appointment model. Great strides have also been made in digitisation and the integration of logistics processes throughout the chain. As a result, nexeye has a leading role in “omni-channel retail" within the optician sector. The ambition for the future is to further expand this leading position.

According to Bart van den Nieuwenhof, CEO of nexeye, this is the time to move on: "By working together to the maximum extent under the common nexeye banner and sharing knowledge and resources with each other, we aim to accelerate the growth of our current and future labels, creating value for all our stakeholders. I am convinced that this will succeed, especially now that we have found reinforcements Frank Holtman as commercial director for eyes + more. Boukje Taphoorn, as a new member of the Board, will bring in a lot of knowledge to nexeye about branding and digitisation."

Bart van den Nieuwenhof, CEO of nexeye

About nexeye (and its labels)

Nexeye is a platform of retail companies that currently consists of three value-for-money optician brands operating in five European countries.

Hans Anders was founded forty years ago and is active in eye and hearing care in the Netherlands and Belgium with 407 locations. In 2021, the chain won the Shopping Award thanks to a successful omni-channel strategy.

eyes + more operates at 280 locations in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium, focuses on affordable, fashionable eye care and is the fastest growing optician chain in Europe.

Direkt Optik has 37 stores in Sweden. Nexeye and its labels employ more than 4,000 people (headcount).