EssilorLuxottica has acquired a significant stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest optical retail chain, with over 2,000 stores across the country, cementing its presence in the region.
Thailand is a strategic hub for EssilorLuxottica’s global manufacturing and business operations, said Francesco Milleri, chairman and CEO, and Paul du Saillant, deputy CEO at EssilorLuxottica. “Our partnership with Top Charoen will strengthen our existing presence in one of the most significant countries in Asia, elevating vision care standards and advancing the development of the emerging wearable category across the region.”
Top Charoen was founded as Charoen Optic in 1947 with the opening of its first store in Saraburi, alongside a mobile van to make eyecare accessible even to remote and rural areas. Today, the company operates under several banners, including Luxoptic, Eye Class, Eye Bright, Eye Sport, Big C Optical, Robinson Optical and Beautiful Optic. Top Charoen also runs an optical e-commerce business through its own platform and certain local third-party marketplaces.
