Dollond & Aitchison
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| Non-trading company (from 2010 business fully integrated into Boots Opticians) | |
| Industry | Retail opticians |
| Founded | 1750 |
| Headquarters | Nottingham, England, UK |
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Key people
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Jonathan Gardner (MD) |
| Products | Eye care |
| Owner | De Rigo (42%) and Alliance Boots (58%) (previous owners of Boots Opticians) |
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Number of employees
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2,500 (2007)[2] |
| Parent | Walgreens Boots Alliance |
| Website | www.danda.co.uk |
Dollond & Aitchison was one of the oldest chains of retail opticians in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1750. The business was absorbed into Boots Opticians in 2009 and stores have gradually been rebranded under the Boots Opticians name, completed in 2015.
On 21 April 1750, Peter Dollond opened a small optical business in Vine Street, near Hatton Garden in London. He was joined by his father, John Dollond, in 1752. The Dollonds became notable for the quality of their optical products. In 1761 John Dollond, now a partner in the business, was appointed optician to King George III and the Duke of York and Albany. In 1781, Peter Dollond made bifocal spectacles.
At The Great Exhibition 1851 in London, the Dollonds were awarded a medal for the excellence of their optical instruments.
In 1889, James Aitchison established his first business in Fleet Street. In 1927 Dollond & Co merged with Aitchison & Co, to form Dollond & Aitchison (abbreviated D&A).
In 1969, the company moved to its current location in Aston, Birmingham.
During the 1960s, Dollond & Aitchison was a subsidiary of the former British television company Television Wales and West. From 1970 until 1982, D&A were successful in a series of acquisitions in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. In 1994, however, management buy-outs of the UK, Spanish and Italian companies took place.
In the 1990s, D&A launched a number of services for customers such as, in 1996, the introduction of computer analysis for eyesight. The company ran a series of memorable adverts in the 1990s featuring screen actor Burt Reynolds to promote the service. Voiced by Actor Tony Clarkin. They launched their website in 1997 and in 1998 began a "contact lenses by post" scheme. The Italian frame manufacturer De Rigo purchased D&A in 1999. In 2001, D&A sold its manufacturing arm to BBGR. In the same year, restructuring of the company took place, consisting of the three wholly owned subsidiaries and holding company.
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Wikipedia