Optical franchise chain Specsavers is on track to beat its initial financial year forecast of $200 million in revenue by $50 million and plans to create 1,000 jobs across its Australian retail network. The announcement was made as the company officially opened its new multi-million dollar head office in Port Melbourne.

In the fastest rollout of its history Specsavers has, in the last 20 months, opened 190 outlets and has 30 more planned for pre-Christmas opening.

The retail expansion will generate 800 jobs with 200 additional positions being created at the 13,000 sq m manufacturing and operational facility in Melbourne.

Specsavers’ founder Doug Perkins (pictured with Martin Pakula, Victorian Minister for Industry and Trade) said Within the multi-purpose facility our new Specsavers Training Academy will offer a full range of skills and career development opportunities to a new generation of optical professionals, to deliver an exceptional standard of customer service in eye care within Australia.

The new facility gives us the platform we need for the next stages of growth in both our Australian and New Zealand markets.

The head office houses three specially equipped training centres for interactive online and daily face to face training sessions, as well as a fully functioning Specsavers store for store training.

Specsavers was founded in 1984 and is the largest privately owned optical retailer in the world with more than 1,300 stores across 10 countries.