Glimpses
NEW LOOK ANNOUNCES
ACQUISITION KENMARK RENEWS LICENCE WITH
ORIGINAL PENGUIN
New Look Vision Group Inc. has
announced that its optometric
division, Iris, The Visual Group
(1990) Inc. has acquired
substantially all of the optical
assets and business of the
Darryl Sher group operating six
retail optical clinics in southern
Ontario: Toronto, Owen Sound,
Midland, Alliston, Angus and
Bracebridge, all of which will be
rebranded under the Iris banner. Kenmark Eyewear has announced the renewal of an
exclusive license agreement for the development,
production and worldwide distribution of eyewear for
the Original Penguin brand.
The agreement will extend to 2024.
Kenmark Eyewear has partnered with Original Penguin
since 2011, launching the brand with segments that include
Original Penguin optical, Original Penguin optical sun and
Original Penguin Junior.
Antoine Amiel, president of New
Look Vision, stated: “After more
than a year of integrating recent
acquisitions, including Iris, and
de-leveraging, this transaction
marks the return to our Canadian
roll-up strategy, in this case led
by Iris. Ontario is a key market in
this growth process.”
Darryl Sher, owner of the
acquired outlets, stated: “Joining
the Iris network was a logical
next step that will set my clinics
up for continued success in the
years to come. Iris’ commitment
to the advancement of eye care
in Canada and strong culture are
very much aligned with my core
values. The decision to remain
on as a minority partner in the
acquired clinics was an easy one
and I look forward to helping Iris
in its stated objective of growing
its presence in Canada’s most
populous province.”
Original Penguin The Sonny
Optical Prism | July 2019 43