Australia: Diethelm Keller to expand Luxottica's Sunglass Hut to Thailand

Luxottica Group S.p.A a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of premium fashion and luxury eyewear, announced that Sunglass Hut, the Group's main sun retail brand, has further expanded its global footprint by entering Thailand, a key Southeast Asian growth market.
The Group has signed a franchising agreement with the privately-held Diethelm Keller Limited that will initially add 15 stores to Sunglass Hut's global network in a new market for the brand.
Sunglass Hut's growing presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region currently comprises 220 stores in markets that include Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Chris Beer, chief executive officer of Luxottica Group's retail business in Australasia, Southeast Asia and South Africa, commented: "Sunglass Hut is the leading sun retail brand in the industry and the only truly global player.
The entry into Thailand strengthens our presence in Southeast Asia, a high-potential growth region for the sun retail business.
It is also an example of the significant additional opportunities for additional growth that the Group sees for Sunglass Hut both in the region and globally.
"Specifically," concluded Mr. Beer, "this transaction represents an important step in the development of the Sunglass Hut brand in Asia-Pacific, allowing us to leverage its global attributes while partnering with local expertise to maximize growth opportunities also in new markets."
Sunglass Hut is the world's single largest [premium/specialty] sun retail brand, with 1,970 stores as of March 31, 2008, mainly in North America, Asia- Pacific, UK, South Africa, the Middle East and now Southeast Asia.