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Specsavers is replacing Luxottica as optometry provider for the Australian Defence Force.
The ADF’s medical and allied health provider, Medibank Health Solutions, has entered into an agreement with Specsavers to provide optical services to ADF personnel.
The announcement comes after Medibank Health Solutions terminated its contract with Luxottica Retail Australia Ltd for the provision of optical services to the Department of Defence on 25 July 2014.
The $33.5 million contract with Luxottica was severed after Luxottica sent defence personnel’s optical claims information overseas for processing.
Medibank Health Solutions discovered that Luxottica had breached its contract to keep all ADF optical claims information on-shore.
Luxottica was awarded the contract in June 2012, to provide off-base optical services to all ADF personnel, primarily through its OPSM stores.
Details of the Medibank Health Solutions agreement with Specsavers remain confidential.
A spokesperson for Specsavers said: ‘We are delighted to be involved and we look forward to providing great service and great value to members of the Australian Defence Force.’
Retail recognition
Specsavers has been named Retail Innovator of the Year and Multichannel Retailer of the Year at the 2014 Australian Retailers Association awards.
The accolade for retail innovation was awarded for Specsavers’ implementation of a full dispensing toolbox in Australia and New Zealand, known as ‘Precision Care’. Launched to consumers last year, the toolbox helps consumers choose lenses and frames, and ensures an accurate measurement of the pupil in relation to the lens.
Specsavers won the multichannel retailer award for its contact lens business strategy. It has moved from a traditional in-store retail approach supported by television and radio promotion to a multichannel strategy that competes against online operators and offers consumers home delivery and in-store after-care.
Specsavers’ Clinical Conference will be held in Sydney on 14 September.