Contact lens supplier focuses in on growth after sales boost

Daysoft, the Blantyre-based supplier of daily-disposable contact lenses, said it was eyeing “future profitable growth” after booking a double-digit rise in sales.

Accounts released to Companies House show that the firm generated overall sales of just under £12.3 million last year, up 13.2 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Profit before tax, interest and dividends increased by 7.2 per cent to a little over £1.6m while Ebitda (underlying earnings) rose 10.9 per cent to £2.4m.

Founder and executive chairman Ron Hamilton said a gross margin of 71.8 per cent, up from 69 per cent, underpinned the financial performance and investment, which continued at “significant levels” in a number of areas, including manufacturing process improvements. “These investments strengthen the directors’ firmly held view that the Daysoft Group has sound foundations for future profitable growth whilst giving regard to any uncertainties and opportunities associated with Brexit,” added Hamilton.

Daysoft’s chairman is credited with inventing the lowcost, daily-disposable contact lens, successfully commercialising the process before selling the business and patents to Bausch & Lomb (B&L) for more than £30m. Following a five-year agreement with B&L, Hamilton re-entered the market in 2006 by linking a new manufacturing process to internet technology.

Ron Hamilton is the founder and executive chair of Daysoft