Bayfields Opticians eyes growth with significant acquisitions

Bayfields Opticians completed the acquisition of two practices involving five new sites, covering both Yorkshire and Surrey, marking the first time the firm has acquired practices outside of Yorkshire.

Under the new new wholly owned subsidiary Bayfields (Huddersfield) Limited, Bayfields Opticians acquired Angela Barraclough Opticians, a long established practice in Huddersfield.

The business is operated on a single site and is in the process of being rebranded as Bayfields, in line with the firm’s other practices.

As for the deal representing Bayfields’ first acquisition in the South, using a newly incorporated subsidiary Bayfields (South) Limited, the firm has acquired the business and assets of Harwoods Opticians, which operates across four sites and two counties: Woking, Camberley, Fleet and Guildford.

All occupy prime retail areas within their respective town centres, and all will be rebranded in the near future,

Marcus Armstrong, partner at Shulmans and corporate finance solicitor, who has acted for Bayfields Opticians for the majority of the firm’s acquisitions, said: “These two deals represent a growth in turnover of almost 80 per cent – an astonishing achievement. Bayfields Opticians is a truly ambitious firm and expanding outside of the region is a genuine marker of its future growth plans.”

The latest acquisitions take the total number of Bayfields practices up to 11, which adds to the group’s intention to achieve its ambitious business plan of having 50 practices by 2025.

Both Barraclough’s and Harwoods’ employees have transferred to Bayfields, and Harwoods’ former owners have entered into service agreements with Bayfields and will continue to provide optometry services. Bayfields now employs a total of 66 staff.

Royston Bayfield, optometrist and managing director of Bayfields Opticians, said: “We are delighted with our latest acquisitions. Huddersfield opens up a new area of the region for us, and our expansion in the south of the country amply demonstrates our intentions of creating a truly national offering.”

Bayfields has premises in Headingley, Yeadon, Pontefract, Wakefield, Horseforth and at the University of Leeds, and has won many awards, including those for Practice of the Year and as Marketing Campaign of the Year at the prestigious Association of Optometrists Awards last October.

Royston added: “Our plan is to invest in the latest practices, both in terms of staff and technology, whilst continuing to work with both Shulmans in acquiring further suitable businesses. We have developed a strong Yorkshire brand and now have the confidence to go outside of the region as part of our comprehensive expansion plans.”

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