In the midst of an expansion process, German group Fielmann has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares in the MFI group, a leader in retail visual and hearing health with 19 Medical Óptica Audición brand shops in the Basque Country. Effective from 31 December, the operation represents a new step for the company in our country, where it acquired Óptica & Audiología Universitaria in 2020.

Since joining the group, Óptica & Audiología Universitaria has significantly increased its market share in Spain. Growth in 2022 rose to 10% due to increased sales, new openings and e-commerce developments. Looking ahead to 2025, the Hamburg-based company is boosting its digitalisation and internationalisation with the aim of achieving market leadership.

Business lines
The transaction includes three business divisions and excludes the real estate holdings of the MFI group. The Bilbao-based family's main line of business is the 19 retail shops and the online store, with close to one million customers making Medical Óptica Audición one of the leading suppliers of optical and hearing products in northern Spain.

Also joining the Fielmann group will be the glass and optical surface laboratory Elaboria, which manufactures some 200,000 lenses a year, and the personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing business Medop, which supplies more than 1.5 million workers in fifty countries. The combined business of the three divisions generated sales of €35 million in 2021 and employed 285 people.

Joining forces
Fielmann CEO Marc Fielmann explained, "With its customer-centric values, exceptionally talented team and market-leading retail offering, MFI Group is a great addition to the Fielmann Group. As Óptica & Audiología Universitaria and the MFI Group join forces, hearing and optical services in Spain will become better and more affordable for everyone. We are confident that together we will continue to change the market for the benefit of customers and achieve market leadership in the medium term".

MFI Group CEO Inés Gómez-Rubiera said, "With Fielmann Group, we gain access to a superior international supply chain and omni-channel platform. We also join a family business that shares our customer-centric values as well as our people-first approach. We look forward to contributing our expertise in retailing, lens manufacturing and protective equipment to better serve customers throughout Spain".

^{Photo: Fielmann}