CECOP
CECOP is a Madrid-founded cooperative community serving over 8,000 independent opticians across Europe and the Americas with annual memberships, collective purchasing, training, digital transformation services, and practice management software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CECOP does
CECOP (CENTRAL DE COMPRAS ÓPTICAS, S.L.) is a Madrid-headquartered multinational founded in 1996 by Jorge Rubio that operates as a community and services cooperative for independent opticians. It provides strategic solutions in operational management, development, training, and digital transformation to over 8,000 associate optical stores across at least eight countries in Europe and the Americas (Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, and the USA), with regional brands including Cecop España, Kimervisión, CECOP Portugal, CECOP Italy, National Eyecare Group, Egs Optik, Optik Society, and Cercle Optique.
The company monetizes primarily through annual subscription-based membership that bundles collective purchasing power with a portfolio of add-on modules: Evolution (strategic business optimization), Marketing Services, Digital Services (including website design and digital displays), and the Optinet practice management software acquired via the 2023 merger with the UK's National Eyecare Group. Members also access community programming such as ViveCECOP, the annual ExpoCECOP trade show, and the Premios NOA awards, and can opt into adjacent services including audiology through a 2022 alliance with Grupo GN and pilot integrations with vision-tech partners such as Wivi Vision.
CECOP's go-to-market is community-led and country-distributed: independent opticians enroll directly through regional websites and local offices, with each country operating under its own brand while sharing the cooperative's procurement, training, and technology backbone. The company is privately held, founder-led, and reports no institutional private equity or public listing; expansion has been funded through organic cash flow and a 2022 €800,000 loan from COFIDES supporting the €2.7 million acquisition of Cercle Optique.
CECOP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CECOP
- Legal name
- CENTRAL DE COMPRAS ÓPTICAS, S.L.
- Website
- https://cecopgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- CECOP is a Madrid-founded cooperative community serving over 8,000 independent opticians across Europe and the Americas with annual memberships, collective purchasing, training, digital transformation services, and practice management software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CECOP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
CECOP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership/Subscription Services: CECOP operates as a purchasing and services cooperative providing operational management solutions to independent opticians. Members pay for access to the community's value-added solutions, training, digital tools, and collective purchasing power.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership for independent opticians |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
CECOP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CECOP is a membership-based community and purchasing/services cooperative for independent opticians, providing strategic solutions, training, operational management support, digital transformation services, and collective purchasing power across multiple countries. Through its 2023 merger with the UK's National Eyecare Group, CECOP also offers Optinet practice management software to member optical stores. Members pay recurring membership fees to access value-added services aimed at improving business profitability against optical retail chains.
Product overview
CECOP is a multinational community platform for the optical sector, offering a unified ecosystem of strategic solutions, training, and operational support to over 5,000 independent optician members across multiple countries. The core offering consists of the CECOP platform providing community benefits and member services, supplemented by specialized modules including Evolution (strategic business optimization), Marketing Services, and Digital Services (including website design and digital displays). The portfolio includes community programs such as ViveCECOP, the annual ExpoCECOP trade show, and the Premios NOA awards. Regional operations span Spain (including CECOP Spain and Kimervisión sub-brands), Italy, Portugal, Germany (Egs Optik and Optik Society), UK (National Eyecare Group), Brazil, and USA. Through the merger with National Eyecare Group, CECOP acquired Optinet practice management software, expanding its service offerings to include operational technology for optical practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kimervision: Brand operating in Spain under the CECOP Group umbrella, part of the two brands (Cecop España and Kimervisión) that sum to more than 1,800 points of sale.
Products and services
- Optinet Practice Management Software Practice management software for optical practices, acquired via the National Eyecare Group merger and offered within CECOP's digital ecosystem to help independent opticians manage operations.
- Evolution Strategic solutions module for independent optical stores focused on operational efficiency and business optimization services offered via the CECOP community platform.
- Marketing Services Marketing support services for independent opticians to enhance their market presence and customer engagement, delivered as part of CECOP's community membership.
- Digital Services Digital transformation tools and services including website design, digital displays, and technology solutions for independent optical stores, including support to access EU Digital Kit subsidies.
- Audiology Services (via Grupo GN partnership) Audiology services and support offered to CECOP associate stores through the Grupo GN partnership, including training and sales assistance, capable of generating 10-25% of a store's total revenue.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8% growth achieved in first four months of 2022
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CECOP
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CECOP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CECOP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Eyecare Group (NEG)coreUK's National Eyecare Group merged with CECOP in 2023. The deal included NEG's subsidiary Optinet, which offers practice management software. The merger facilitates digital transformation and expands CECOP's presence in Europe and the Americas.
- IndominorCECOP and Indo jointly donated to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). This CSR partnership demonstrates the companies' commitment to non-commercial relationships with associates and clients.
- Grupo GNcoreCECOP entered an alliance with Grupo GN to become an audiology provider for its associates. Grupo GN, with over 150 years of trajectory and 2021 sales of 15.775 billion Danish crowns (€2.119 billion), provides CECOP members with audiologist support, training, and sales assistance. Audiology can generate 10-25% of a store's total revenue.
- Óptica Bajo AragónminorCECOP sponsored Óscar Pérez García of Óptica Bajo Aragón's Mongolia eyeglass donation initiative (#elcolordelassonrisas). CECOP fully funded the gasoline costs for the 30,000 km journey to deliver glasses to people in developing countries.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CECOP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IDOC: Alliance of independent optometrists providing vendor negotiation, practice management tools, and operational support. Directly comparable to CECOP's value proposition in the US market.
- Vision Source: US-based alliance network of independent optometrists offering purchasing, marketing, and operational support. Closest analogue to CECOP's community/cooperative model, but North America-focused.
- PRIMA Eyewear / PERC Optical: Purchasing and service cooperative serving independent optical retailers with collective buying and operational services — directly comparable in business model to CECOP.
Broad incumbents
- National Vision Holdings: US-based optical retailer operating value and mall-based chains (America's Best, Eyeglass World). Represents the chain-retail model that CECOP's independent members compete against.
- EyeCare Partners: PE-backed network of optometry and ophthalmology practices in the US. Comparable as a consolidating/roll-up platform in independent eyecare, though a practice-owning model rather than membership cooperative.
- VSP Vision: Large US eye-care alliance and vision-insurance provider with a doctor network model. Adjacent incumbent operating in the optical professional-services space at much larger scale than CECOP.
- Bausch + Lomb: Global eye-health company spanning contact lenses, lens care, and ophthalmic products. Broad incumbent on the supplier side of the optical value chain that CECOP's members operate within.
- EssilorLuxottica: World's largest optical company (lenses, frames, retail brands like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision). Dominant industry incumbent whose retail and supplier reach shapes the competitive environment for CECOP's members.
- HOYA Vision Care: Global lens manufacturer and optical solutions provider. Sits on the supplier side of the same optical value chain that CECOP's members depend on.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Major optical and medical technology group serving eyecare professionals. Operates as a broad supplier/incumbent in the same optical ecosystem as CECOP.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CECOP social profiles
Digital presenceCECOP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CECOP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
CECOP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
CECOP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CECOP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CECOP
What does CECOP do?
CECOP is a membership-based community and purchasing/services cooperative for independent opticians, providing strategic solutions, training, operational management support, digital transformation services, and collective purchasing power across multiple countries. Through its 2023 merger with the UK's National Eyecare Group, CECOP also offers Optinet practice management software to member optical stores. Members pay recurring membership fees to access value-added services aimed at improving business profitability against optical retail chains.
Is CECOP a public or private company?
CECOP is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CECOP founded?
CECOP was founded in 1996. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is CECOP based?
CECOP is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does CECOP make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership/Subscription Services.
Who are CECOP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IDOC, Vision Source and PRIMA Eyewear / PERC Optical. Broad incumbents are National Vision Holdings, EyeCare Partners, VSP Vision, Bausch + Lomb, EssilorLuxottica, HOYA Vision Care and Carl Zeiss Meditec.
Does CECOP have an API?
No public API is recorded for CECOP.