The Platform Group SE & Co. KGaA announced a major expansion of its Optics & Hearing segment on 30 March 2026. The company laid out plans to connect local optical stores with the MyGlasses online platform.
After a busy 2025 packed with acquisitions, the group’s update points toward a long-term plan. They want to scale up physical locations and boost digital capabilities in eye care and hearing aids.
Strategic expansion of the Optics & Hearing segment
The group first set up the Optics & Hearing segment in 2025, aiming to bridge classic optical retailers and the MyGlasses online platform. That year, they pulled off five acquisitions, adding over 30 new locations across Germany.
Some big names joined the fold, like Beste Aussichten GmbH, Karrasch & Nolte, and Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH in Munich. It’s a quick build-out, and it’s intended to lay the groundwork for a scalable, integrated store-and-online experience for customers looking for eyewear and related services.
One standout move: the group’s subsidiary, Feine Augenoptik Beteiligungs-GmbH, signed a deal to acquire Blickpunkt GmbH Brillen und Contactlinsen in Starnberg, Bavaria. They expect to close by April 2026.
Management points out that the Starnberg store brings a high-quality location and a valuable customer base. This should strengthen the group’s premium network.
The goal? Deliver a seamless, omnichannel experience that connects physical stores and online services under MyGlasses.
The Platform Group reports a solid EBITDA margin of 20–25% in this segment. CEO Dr. Dominik Benner calls the optics entry a deliberate, long-term strategy to grow physical locations and weave them into the online ecosystem.
Acquisitions at a glance
- Beste Aussichten GmbH
- Karrasch & Nolte
- Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH (Munich)
- Blickpunkt GmbH Brillen und Contactlinsen (Starnberg) – closing expected by April 2026
Financial snapshot from preliminary 2025 figures
- Revenue: EUR 728 million for 2025 (preliminary figures)
- Adjusted EBITDA: EUR 55 million
- EBITDA margin: 20–25% within the Optics & Hearing segment
Strategy for growth and platform integration
At the heart of TPG’s strategy is the push to expand its optical store footprint while tying everything into the MyGlasses platform. This two-pronged approach is supposed to give customers a consistent experience and make services more accessible.
They’re hoping it’ll also drive steady, high-margin revenue through cross-channel offerings. Leadership says it’s not just about adding more stores—it’s about building a real ecosystem where local opticians can plug into a scalable digital setup.
Next up, they want to bring even more local opticians onto the Platform Group’s network. The idea is to create a stable, high-margin business line that plays to the strengths of both brick-and-mortar shops and online services.
They’re focusing on sustainable growth, wider customer reach, and getting more operational leverage across the Optics & Hearing segment. It’s ambitious, but maybe that’s what the market wants right now.
Platform Group: scale, ecosystem, and reach
Outside optics, The Platform Group runs across 26 industries with its own platform solutions. There’s a wide partner network—over 16,000 users at last count.
This diverse ecosystem opens doors for cross-selling, smarter service upgrades, and a solid base for connecting physical stores with digital channels. The company’s platform-first approach looks like it could keep fueling growth in both revenue and profits as the lines between online and offline shopping keep blurring.
Outlook and leadership perspective
Preliminary 2025 figures point to strong performance and a growing geographic reach. The Platform Group is pushing toward a more integrated, high-margin future in optics and hearing.
Dr. Dominik Benner says the optics expansion is a long-term bet. He believes in combining physical convenience with online accessibility, which makes sense in today’s market.
As the company keeps acquiring and new locations like Starnberg open, both investors and customers can look forward to a smoother ecosystem for eyewear and hearing solutions. It’s about blending selection, service, and speed—maybe not perfectly yet, but they’re getting there.
Here is the source article for this story: The Platform Group further expands in the optics sector