Company Profile
The Duncan and Todd Group Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area, and Competitors
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Sr. No. |
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Description |
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1 |
Company Name |
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2 |
Website |
www.duncanandtoddgroup.com |
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3 |
Established Date |
1972 |
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4 |
Headquartered |
Scotland |
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5 |
Market Position/ History |
The Duncan and Todd Group has steadily grown since its founding in 1972 with the opening of its first branch in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. In 1976, it expanded into manufacturing by establishing Caledonian Optical to serve its branches. Over the decades, the group expanded its retail presence across Scotland, acquiring multiple optician practices and increasing its branches to 44 by 2022. Significant investments have supported growth, including a £5.6 million injection from the Business Growth Fund in 2013 and a £1.5 million technology upgrade for Caledonian Optical in 2023. Alongside retail expansion, the group diversified services by introducing hearing care in 2018 and enhanced its online capabilities. Today, Duncan and Todd is a well-established eyecare group with a strong manufacturing base and extensive retail network across Scotland and the UK. |
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6 |
Sales Area |
Worldwide |
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Manufacturing Location |
Scotland and other |
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Competitors |
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CEO |
Mat Norris |
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Ownership Type |
Private |
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Contact Information |
Unit 4, Kirkhill Commercial Park Dyce Aberdeen AB21 0LQ Tel: 01224 211 911 |
Business Segment/ Overview:
The Duncan and Todd Group operates across multiple business segments within the optical and hearing care industry, establishing itself as a leading specialist in Scotland. Its core retail segment consists of over 40 branches under well-known brands such as Duncan and Todd Opticians and Hearing Care, 20 20 Opticians, JM MacDonald, IC Andrew, James Hughes, Browns, and Douglas Dickie, serving both urban and rural communities with professional eye and hearing care services. The group’s integrated audiology services, introduced in 2018, complement its traditional optical offerings, enabling comprehensive sensory healthcare under one umbrella.
On the manufacturing and supply side, the group owns and operates Caledonian Optical, a cutting-edge ophthalmic lens laboratory based in Aberdeen. This facility supports all Duncan and Todd retail branches and supplies over 200 external clients across the UK, reflecting a significant presence in lens production and distribution.
Additionally, Duncan and Todd Group caters to corporate clients through its Smart Employee Eyecare division, which provides specialized vision solutions such as VDU (visual display unit), safety, and driver eyecare. This segment assists businesses throughout the UK and Ireland in meeting health and safety legislation, highlighting the group’s diverse approach to eyecare beyond consumer retail. Overall, Duncan and Todd’s multi-segment strategy integrates retail, manufacturing, audiology, and corporate services to deliver comprehensive eye and hearing care solutions across Scotland and beyond.
Spectacle Lense Product Types Specification
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Product |
Product Description |
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Single Vision |
HSDV (HD:SV 2.0) High-performance single vision lens Personalized design for optimal clarity Ideal for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism Ensures superior visual quality across the lens surface Serene (SERENE 2.0) Advanced lens designed for pre-presbyopes Reduces visual fatigue during prolonged near work Perfect for digital device users and reading tasks Supports accommodative function and visual comfort HDSV Drive (HD:SV Drive 2.0) Specialized single vision driving lens Enhanced clarity in all lighting conditions Minimizes effects of night myopia and glare Ideal for frequent drivers and low-light environments |
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Progressive lenses |
ARC Steady 2.0 Premium advanced varifocal (progressive) lens Offers exceptional stability and visual clarity Designed with cutting-edge simulation technology Optimized for dynamic viewing in daily life Zone:Mobile 2.0 Progressive lens with enhanced near zone Ideal for digital device users and multitaskers Provides balanced vision at all distances Smooth transitions between focal areas Zone:Extend 2.0 Designed for outdoor-focused lifestyles Excellent for experienced progressive lens wearers Enhances intermediate and distance zones Provides comfortable visual clarity outdoors Zone:Base 2.0 Flagship soft progressive lens design Well-suited for a wide range of wearers Balanced performance between near and far zones Comfortable adaptation with smooth power distribution Entry 2.0 Entry-level progressive lens Non-compensated, cost-effective design Suitable for first-time progressive users Offers a balance between near and distance vision Zone: Drive 2.0 Specialized progressive driving lens Optimized for all lighting conditions Reduces night myopia and glare effects Enhances safety and comfort while driving |
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Occupational |
Office 2.0 Optimized for near and intermediate vision Ideal for office, computer, and indoor work environments Designed to reduce eye strain and improve visual comfort at desk-based distances Provides a wider field of view compared to traditional reading lenses Solves common limitations of standard progressive or reading-only lenses Enhances productivity and ergonomic comfort for professionals |
Business Strategy
The Duncan & Todd Group’s strategy for the optical and hearing care market is centered on vertical integration, regional market dominance, and service diversification. With over 50 years of operational experience and a robust portfolio of more than 40 retail branches across Scotland, the Group aims to deliver accessible, high-quality optical and audiology services to both urban and rural communities. One core pillar of their strategy is the integration of manufacturing and retail: through Caledonian Optical, their state-of-the-art lens laboratory in Aberdeen, Duncan & Todd ensures end-to-end control over product quality, innovation, and supply chain efficiency. This internal manufacturing capability supports both their own practices and over 200 external clients across the UK, creating a scalable and high-margin business model.
In tandem, the Group is expanding its corporate services through Smart Employee Eyecare, offering customized VDU, driver, and safety eyecare solutions that help organizations meet HSE compliance while generating recurring B2B revenue. Another key strategic focus is the incorporation of audiology services across all locations, tapping into the growing demand for hearing care and creating bundled care offerings that enhance patient lifetime value. The Group also continues to pursue an aggressive acquisition strategy, as seen with the integration of brands like 20 20 Opticians, JM MacDonald, and Black & Lizars branches, allowing it to consolidate market share and rapidly extend its geographic footprint.
Digital transformation is another important pillar of their strategy, reflected in the rollout of online appointment booking systems and a strong emphasis on personalized customer care. Collectively, these initiatives position Duncan & Todd as a vertically integrated, multi-service healthcare provider with a resilient and adaptive model for sustained growth in the UK optical and hearing care markets.
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Profile Details
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Author Anushka Gore
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Published 08 Sep 2026
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Last Updated 09 Sep 2026
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Reading Time~5 minutes
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CoverageSWOT, Financials, Key Employees, History
Table of Contents
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- 1.1 About The Duncan and Todd Group
- 1.2 Key Facts
- 1.3 Key Employees
- 1.3.1 Key Employee Biographies
- 1.4 History
- 1.5 Locations & Subsidiaries
- 1.5.1 Head Office
- 1.5.2 Other Locations & Subsidiaries
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- 2.1 Company Overview
- 2.2 Business Segments
- 2.3 R&D Overview
- 2.4 Brands
- 2.5 Key Company Statistics
- 2.6 Key Financials (2015–2019)
- 2.7 Share Holder Analysis
- 2.8 Regional Presence
- 2.9 Services Offered
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- 3.1 Strengths
- 3.2 Weaknesses
- 3.3 Opportunities
- 3.4 Threats
- 3.5 Key Competitors
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- 4.1 Company Metrics
- 4.2 Key Investors
- 4.3 Recent Funding & Valuation
- 4.4 Historical Funding & Valuation
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- 5.1 Acquisitions
- 5.2 Partnerships
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- 6.1 Latest News & Announcements
- 6.2 Strategic Initiatives
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- 7.1 Summary of Findings
- 7.2 Strategic Recommendations
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