When Mintel last reported on this market it was oversupplied, with consolidation occurring among suppliers and retailers. This trend has continued with examples of take-overs, particularly influencing suppliers of contact lenses and the retail sector.

The overall market has grown slowly, with the lions share of the action coming from retailers who have persuaded consumers to trade up with added value in specs coming from designer labels and complex lenses. In this highly competitive retail market, there are signs of cracks appearing in the structure. Two of the major chains are losing market share, two of the big four are struggling to generate satisfactory profit levels and another has seen profits fall because of discounting.

Using the latest consumer research, market size data and trend analysis, this report provides vital new insight into the current state of the market and its prospects, investigating its driving forces, segmentation, supply structure, distribution avenues, advertising spend and sales forecasts.

Mintel’s findings offer you a unique way of understanding consumer trends and the attitudes of the market’s key target audiences, enabling you to tailor your marketing to real demand, both tactically and strategically. Use Mintel’s research to avoid market pitfalls, discover sector opportunities, identify growth potential and make your business more profitable.