EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica stands as the dominant force in the global eyewear industry, a Franco-Italian multinational corporation formed by the merger of Essilor and Luxottica on October 1, 2018. This union combined the French leader in ophthalmic lenses with the Italian giant behind iconic frame brands, creating a vertically integrated entity that controls the entire value chain from design and manufacturing to wholesale distribution and retail sales.

The company operates through three main subdivisions: Manufacturing, which produces lenses and frames across facilities in Italy, France, China, the United States, Brazil, and India; Wholesale, which distributes house and licensed brands to partners worldwide; and Retail, which manages a vast network including LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, OPSM, and GrandVision. Its portfolio features house brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, and Vogue Eyewear alongside licensing agreements with major fashion houses such as Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferrari, Michael Kors, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., and Versace.

Headquartered legally in Charenton-le-Pont, France, the organization maintains dual operational hubs in Milan and Paris. It employs approximately 150,000 people globally and reported revenue of €25.4 billion for fiscal year 2023. The company is publicly traded on Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol EL, with a market capitalization that has fluctuated between €90 billion and €100 billion in recent years. [bearbeiten]

The organization's strategic plan Vision for Life, launched in 2022, aims to help people see more and be more by improving vision and eye health globally. A central pillar of this initiative commits the company to providing access to vision care for one billion people by 2050 through philanthropic programs, partnerships with organizations like the World Health Organization, and sustainable business practices. [bearbeiten]

Luxottica began in 1961 when Leonardo Del Vecchio established a factory in Agordo, Italy, initially producing parts for the eyewear industry before expanding into complete frame manufacturing. Under his leadership, the company acquired Ray-Ban in 1999 and Oakley in 2007, eventually becoming the dominant force in sunglasses and frames. Essilor emerged in 1972 from the merger of Essel (founded 1849) and Silor (founded 1931), evolving into a global leader in ophthalmic lenses with proprietary technologies like Varilux and Crizal.

The strategic merger between these two entities was announced in January 2017 and completed on October 1, 2018, creating a combined entity with annual revenues exceeding €16 billion at the time. In 2021, the company further solidified its retail dominance by acquiring GrandVision for €7.1 billion, significantly expanding its European footprint. Leonardo Del Vecchio passed away in June 2022, leaving a leadership vacuum that was filled by Francesco Milleri as chairman and Paul du Saillant as CEO.

Recent developments in 2026 highlight the company's pivot toward technology and AI. EssilorLuxottica partnered with Meta to launch the third generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, featuring advanced AI capabilities, cameras, and speakers. Additionally, the company unveiled Nuance Audio™ Plus, a next-generation assistive listening solution integrated into eyewear, and showcased automated retail concepts at TFWA Cannes 2026. [bearbeiten]