Member Article

Midlands manufacturer sets its sights on international markets

A leading eye-care manufacturer based in the Midlands has set its sights on continuing its expansion into international markets.

MacuVision Europe Ltd was established in 2006 by Warwickshire couple Anne and Trevor McCormack who launched their flagship eye-care supplement MacuShield.

The patented formula is derived from marigolds and combines powerful anti-oxidants to help protect the eye by absorbing damaging blue light present in sunlight, car headlights and television screens.

The product has been rated as the UK’s number one eye-care supplement by the Macular Pigment Research Group based at the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland.

And after successfully expanding across nine European countries, including Germany, Holland, Poland and Sweden, the firm has now moved to its new headquarters based at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Blythe Valley Innovation Centre in Solihull.

Anne McCormack, managing director at MacuVision Europe Ltd, said: “Over the last few years our focus has been on clinical trials and forming strong links with leading scientific institutes to help us expand overseas.

“This has enabled us to continue to grow from strength to strength, securing two distribution channels within the UK as well as nine additional channels across Europe.

“MacuShield is not only recommended by eye-care professionals across the UK and Europe but we have also been able to expand into the pharmaceutical market including Boots, Lloyds, ASDA, and Sainsbury’s.

“We also have plans to launch the eye-care supplement in Australia later this year.”

Anne McCormack is expecting MacuVision to continue to grow at its new home with plans to create three additional jobs at the firm over the next few years.

She added: “Our move to the Innovation Centre at Blythe Valley was well suited for us as a business, as the larger office space gives us the flexibility to grow, as well as providing good links to the University of Warwick.

“We are also excited to be able to launch our new product, MacuShield Gold, which has an enhanced formula, to help improve clarity of vision and reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.”

Janet Bunch, from the University of Warwick Science Park, said MacuVision is another strong addition to the centre.

“It is fantastic to see a small family-run business continue to grow across its sector by expanding into international export markets,” she said.

“Anne and Trevor are experts in an ever-growing field and their products will continue to develop as scientific research into the eye-care sector expands.

“We are looking forward to supporting the team from the Innovation Centre in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophie Marsden .