Krys
Krys is a French optical retail cooperative operating 1,000+ stores across France under the KGS legal entity, selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and connected eyewear through omnichannel retail, e-commerce, and the Krys Audition hearing-care vertical.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersBazainville, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Krys does
Krys is a French optical retail cooperative operating under the legal entity KGS (RCS Versailles 421 390 188), running a network of more than 1,000 optician stores across France alongside a full e-commerce platform at krys.com. The company sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids, and provides associated eye-care and audiology services. Its manufacturing arm produces its Signature Krys house-brand lenses and contact lenses in France, supporting a bundle offer (Forfait K) that starts at €39 for a frame plus lenses and a Tier-1 price entry for the 100% Santé zero-cost government coverage program.
The product portfolio spans premium licensed brands (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent, Chloé, Tom Ford, Persol, Moncler, Balenciaga) and proprietary lines (Signature Krys, Le Coq Sportif exclusive collaboration, Levi's exclusive), a full stack of contact lenses from J&J Vision, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, and Menicon, and a growing connected/smart glasses category that includes Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Smart Signature Krys, Nuance Audio hearing-assist glasses, and Even Realities. The hearing-care vertical (Krys Audition) offers Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Bernafon, and Signature Krys hearing aids, with free assessment, 4-year warranty, and 30-day trials integrated through Doctolib online booking. Tech-enabled features include a webcam-based virtual fitting room, the AI-powered myKrysStyle advisor (pttrns.ai), 3D facial measurement systems, and an Eyesoft VR headset experience for visual-comfort demonstration.
The business model combines one-time retail of frames, lenses, contact lenses, and hearing aids; subscription pricing on contact lenses with tiered bulk discounts; multi-year warranties and protection packs (Garantie Casse et Entretien à vie, Krys Pack Protection); and professional services revenue from eye exams, lens fitting, and audiology consultations. Distribution is omnichannel: 1,000+ owned/cooperative retail stores, e-commerce with free in-store pickup (Click & Collect), in-store delivery, and Doctolib integration for hearing appointments. Marketing leverages multi-brand social presence, a Tour de France sponsorship with on-site hearing assessments and eye exams, content marketing on eye health, influencer partnerships, and SEO/SEM. Sub-brands include Signature Krys, Krys Audition, The Good Move recycling program, and Forfait K. Krys was named "Enseigne préférée des français 2026" (Most Preferred Optical Retailer Among French Consumers in 2026), reinforcing its brand position in a competitive French optical market.
Krys firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Krys
- Legal name
- KGS (Krys Group)
- Website
- https://krys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Krys is a French optical retail cooperative operating 1,000+ stores across France under the KGS legal entity, selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and connected eyewear through omnichannel retail, e-commerce, and the Krys Audition hearing-care vertical.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Krys industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Optical Retail and Audiology Services
- NAICS
- Optical Goods Retailers (45613)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
Keywords
Where Krys is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bazainville
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices23 records
Markets served
Krys business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Optical Products Sales: Retail sale of prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and accessories through physical stores and online platform. Products include own-brand Signature Krys as well as premium brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, Oakley, Chloé.
- Eye Care Services: Professional optical services including eye examinations, lens fitting, and after-sales services. Hearing care services through Krys Audition including hearing tests and hearing aid provision.
- Smart/Connected Glasses: Sale of connected glasses including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Smart Signature Krys, Nuance Audio (hearing-enabled glasses), and Even Realities smart glasses.
- Contact Lens Subscriptions: Contact lens sales with progressive discounts for bulk purchases (10% off for 6 months of daily lenses or 1 year of frequent replacement lenses; 15% off for 1 year of daily lenses).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Frame + Lenses Package [K] starting at €39 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Ray-Ban prescription glasses from €149 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Chloé sunglasses from €319 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Signature Krys daily contact lenses from €15 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Biofinity contact lenses €27.90 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Dailies Total 1 contact lenses €31.90 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Total 30 monthly contact lenses from €52.90 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Biotrue daily contact lenses from €22.90 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Clariti daily contact lenses from €25.90 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Freshlook color contact lenses from €16.90 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Hearing aids and audiology services |
| Subscription | Annual | Insurance and warranty packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Krys product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Krys sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids through a network of over 1,000 optical retail stores across France and a full e-commerce platform, supported by its own Signature Krys house brand of lenses and contact lenses manufactured in France. The company also operates Krys Audition, providing in-store audiology services including hearing tests, hearing aid fitting, and hearing protection products. It retails connected/smart eyewear (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Smart Signature Krys, Nuance Audio, Even Realities) and offers bundled frame-plus-lens packages starting at €39.
Product overview
Krys is a French optical and audiology retailer operating a network of over 1,000 stores across France alongside a full e-commerce platform (krys.com). Its product portfolio centers on three core categories: (1) prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses — featuring a wide brand portfolio (Ray-Ban, Gucci, Prada, Oakley, Tom Ford, Saint Laurent, Chloé, and its own Signature Krys house brand) plus connected/smart glasses (Smart Signature Krys, Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Nuance Audio hearing-assist glasses); (2) contact lenses — spanning daily, bi-weekly, and monthly modalities across major manufacturers (Acuvue/J&J, Dailies/Alcon, Biofinity/Coopervision, Air Optix/Alcon, MyDay/Coopervision, Ultra/Bausch & Lomb, Total/Alcon, Clariti/Coopervision, Biotrue/Bausch & Lomb, Freshlook/Alcon, and Krys's own Signature Krys brand), along with lens care solutions; and (3) audiology — Krys Audition hearing centers offering hearing tests, hearing aids (Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Bernafon, Signature Krys), and hearing protection. Krys differentiates through vertically integrated lens manufacturing in France, bundled pricing programs (Forfaits K from €39), the 100% Santé zero-cost coverage, virtual try-on and AI-powered style advisor tools, its The Good Move recycling initiative, and VR-based vision training with Eyesoft. Online services include virtual fitting rooms, e-reservation, and online appointment booking via Doctolib.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Signature Krys: Private label eyewear and contact lenses brand manufactured by Krys
- Krys Audition
- The Good Move
- Forfait K
Products and services
- Prescription Eyeglasses (Lunettes de vue)
Companies that use Krys
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Krys technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Krys partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
60 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Ray-BancorePremium eyewear brand partnership. Krys sells Ray-Ban prescription glasses, sunglasses, and Ray-Ban Meta connected glasses. Exclusive offerings include Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses with camera and audio features.
- OakleycoreSports and performance eyewear brand. Krys offers Oakley prescription glasses, sunglasses, and Oakley Meta connected glasses with audio capabilities.
- GuccicoreLuxury fashion brand. Krys stocks Gucci prescription glasses and sunglasses collections.
- ChloécoreFashion eyewear brand. Krys offers Chloé sunglasses and prescription glasses.
- PradacoreLuxury fashion house. Krys stocks Prada sunglasses and optical frames.
- PersolcoreItalian luxury eyewear brand. Krys offers Persol sunglasses with featured brand placement on homepage.
- Saint LaurentcoreLuxury fashion brand. Krys stocks Saint Laurent prescription glasses and sunglasses.
- Isabel MarantcoreFrench fashion designer brand. Krys offers Isabel Marant optical and sunglasses collections.
- Tom FordcoreLuxury fashion and eyewear brand. Krys stocks Tom Ford prescription glasses and sunglasses.
- LongchampcoreFrench luxury leather goods and accessories brand. Krys offers Longchamp eyewear.
- Le Coq SportifcoreFrench sportswear brand with exclusive Krys collaboration. 'Le Coq Sportif x Krys' collection featured prominently. Krys is exclusive optical retailer for Le Coq Sportif eyewear.
- Levi'scoreDenim brand. Krys offers Levi's eyewear collection. Exclusive Krys distribution.
- Miu MiucoreItalian luxury fashion house. Krys stocks Miu Miu sunglasses.
- LacostecoreFrench sportswear brand. Krys offers Lacoste sunglasses.
- Marc JacobscoreAmerican fashion designer brand. Krys stocks Marc Jacobs sunglasses.
- Tommy HilfigercoreAmerican premium fashion brand. Krys offers Tommy Hilfiger prescription glasses.
- Emporio ArmanicoreItalian fashion brand. Krys stocks Emporio Armani optical frames.
- Giorgio ArmanicoreItalian luxury fashion house. Krys offers Giorgio Armani sunglasses.
- Ralph LaurencoreAmerican luxury fashion brand. Krys stocks Ralph Lauren and Polo Ralph Lauren eyewear.
- BalenciagacoreFrench luxury fashion house. Krys offers Balenciaga sunglasses.
- MonclercoreItalian luxury fashion and down jacket brand. Krys stocks Moncler sunglasses.
- Etnia BarcelonacoreIndependent eyewear brand from Barcelona. Krys offers Etnia Barcelona in 'Nos choix Créateurs' (Creator's Choice) section.
- Zadig & VoltairecoreFrench fashion brand. Krys stocks Zadig & Voltaire sunglasses and optical frames.
- SandrocoreFrench fashion brand. Krys offers Sandro optical frames.
- GuesscoreAmerican fashion brand. Krys stocks Guess prescription glasses and sunglasses.
- Ba&shcoreFrench fashion brand. Krys stocks Ba&sh eyewear.
- L'Atelier du FaubourgcoreIndependent French eyewear brand. Featured in Krys brand collection.
- VersacecoreItalian luxury fashion house. Krys stocks Versace sunglasses.
- WoowcoreIndependent eyewear brand. Featured in Krys 'Nos choix Créateurs' collection.
- Acuvue (Johnson & Johnson)coreContact lens brand. Krys sells Acuvue Oasys, Acuvue Moist, 1 Day Acuvue Oasys Max, and Acuvue Oasys 1-Day contact lenses. Manufacturer: Ethicon Vistakon.
- Dailies (Alcon)coreDaily contact lens brand. Krys sells Dailies AquaComfort Plus, Dailies Total 1, and Dailies All Day Comfort. Also offers Dailies x Krys branded collaboration lenses.
- Biofinity (Coopervision)coreSilicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Krys sells Biofinity monthly and multifocal lenses. Manufacturer: Coopervision Osi.
- Air Optix (Alcon)coreSilicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Krys stocks Air Optix contact lenses.
- Biotrue (Bausch & Lomb)coreBio-inspired daily contact lens brand. Krys sells Biotrue One Day, Biotrue One Day for Astigmatism, and Biotrue One Day for Presbyopia. First bio-inspired lenses in ophthalmology.
- Freshlook (Alcon)coreColor contact lens brand. Krys sells Freshlook One Day, Freshlook Colorblends, Freshlook Colors, and Freshlook Illuminate. Available with and without prescription.
- Total (Alcon)corePremium silicone hydrogel monthly contact lens brand. Krys sells Total 30, Total 30 for Astigmatism, and Total 30 Multifocal.
- Clariti (Coopervision)coreDaily silicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Krys sells Clariti 1-Day, Clariti 1 Day Toric, and Clariti 1 Day Multifocal.
- MyDay (Coopervision)coreDaily contact lens brand. Krys sells MyDay daily lenses and MyDay MiSight (myopia control).
- Ultra (Bausch & Lomb)coreSilicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Krys sells Ultra and Ultra Multifocal for Astigmatism lenses.
- Soflens (Bausch & Lomb)coreContact lens brand. Krys sells Soflens Daily Disposable and Soflens 59.
- Miru (Menicon)coreJapanese contact lens brand. Krys sells Miru 1 Day, Miru 1 Day Upside, Miru 1 Day Flat Pack, and Miru 1 Month including multifocal options.
- PureVision (Bausch & Lomb)coreSilicone hydrogel contact lens brand. Krys sells PureVision and PureVision 2HD.
- Proclear (Coopervision)coreBiocompatible contact lens brand. Krys sells Proclear 1 Day and Proclear 1 Day Multifocal.
- Premio (Menicon)corePremium contact lens brand. Krys sells Menicon Premio monthly lenses.
- Biomedics (Coopervision)coreContact lens brand. Krys sells Biomedics 1 Day Extra.
- Precision (Alcon)coreDaily contact lens brand. Krys sells Precision 1 and Precision 7 for Astigmatism.
- PhonakcoreHearing aid brand. Krys Audition offers Phonak hearing aids and accessories at hearing care centers.
- OticoncoreHearing aid brand. Krys Audition offers Oticon hearing aids including Oticon Zeal. Featured brand at Vitrolles location.
- Signia / SiemenscoreHearing aid brand. Krys Audition offers Signia (formerly Siemens) hearing aids and accessories.
- BernafoncoreHearing aid brand. Krys Audition stocks Bernafon hearing solutions.
- Nuance AudiocoreHearing-enabled smart glasses. Krys offers Nuance Audio glasses - prescription eyeglasses with integrated hearing assistance technology combining vision correction and hearing support.
- Even RealitiescoreSmart glasses brand. Krys offers Even Realities connected glasses.
- Meta (Facebook)coreTechnology partnership for connected glasses. Krys sells Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses (camera, audio, AI features) and Oakley Meta performance smart glasses. First retail partner for Meta AI glasses in France.
- SailbagsminorSustainable ocean accessories brand. Krys x Sailbags collaboration for ocean-themed sunglasses collection. Partnership focused on environmental sustainability and ocean protection messaging.
- DoctolibcoreOnline appointment booking platform. Krys Audition centers integrated with Doctolib for online appointment scheduling across all locations.
- 100% Santé ProgramcoreFrench government healthcare program. Krys participates in 100% Santé for both optical (zero out-of-pocket for eligible frames and lenses) and hearing (zero cost hearing aids for eligible patients).
- Mutual Health Insurance PartnerscorePartnership with various mutual health insurance providers (mutuelles) for coverage and reimbursement coordination. 'Partenaires mutuelles' mentioned at Krys Audition locations.
- Julie @douzefevrierminorInstagram influencer partnership. Julie (@douzefevrier) promoted The Good Move recycling program and ocean conservation message. Influencer-generated content about recycling used contact lenses.
- pttrns.ai (myKrysStyle)coreAI-powered virtual try-on technology provider. Krys uses pttrns.ai platform (shopId: 63e4c1dbd5a676002968b462) for myKrysStyle virtual try-on and style recommendation tool.
- Tour de FrancemajorMajor sports sponsorship. 'Vu et entendu sur le tour' - free hearing assessments and eye exams at Tour de France events. Solar mask promotions at €29. Extensive brand visibility during France's premier cycling race.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Krys competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Specsavers: Large European optical and hearing retailer with a partnership-store model. Comparable on scale, hearing-care diversification and omnichannel strategy, even though its French presence is more limited.
- EssilorLuxottica: Vertically integrated eyewear giant that controls major brands Krys distributes (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Prada) and operates global retail banners. Both a wholesale supplier of brands to Krys and an indirect competitor through its retail chains in France.
Direct peers
- Générale d'Optique: Major French optical retail chain (GrandVision/EssilorLuxottica) with comparable nationwide footprint, multi-brand eyewear assortment, contact lens offering and online channel. Operates as a near-direct competitor on price, range and store density.
- Optical Center: French optical retailer with a multi-store network and integrated online platform, competing across prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and hearing services. Directly comparable on value pricing and omnichannel model.
- Atol: French optical retailer with store network and partnerships similar to Krys, covering prescription eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses. Direct competitor in the French optical market.
- GrandOptical: French optical chain under EssilorLuxottica; directly overlapping with Krys on product range, multibrand assortment and store-based dispensing model.
- Alain Afflelou: Largest French optical retail chain with a similar nationwide network of stores selling prescription eyewear, sunglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids under an own-brand plus premium partner-brand model. Direct head-to-head competitor to Krys in France.
Emerging players
- Mister Spex: European online-led optical retailer active in France via misterspex.fr, competing on price, convenience and try-at-home services. Represents the digital-first threat to Krys's brick-and-mortar model.
- Polette: French DTC online eyewear brand offering low-price prescription frames and sunglasses with virtual try-on. Comparable on AI/virtual try-on features and digitally native customer journey.
- Warby Parker: US direct-to-consumer optical retailer known for home try-on, vertical brand model and affordable eyewear. Useful comparable for omnichannel and virtual try-on competitive benchmarks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Krys social profiles
Digital presenceKrys financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Krys leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Krys subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Krys funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Krys M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Krys
What does Krys do?
Krys sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids through a network of over 1,000 optical retail stores across France and a full e-commerce platform, supported by its own Signature Krys house brand of lenses and contact lenses manufactured in France. The company also operates Krys Audition, providing in-store audiology services including hearing tests, hearing aid fitting, and hearing protection products. It retails connected/smart eyewear (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Smart Signature Krys, Nuance Audio, Even Realities) and offers bundled frame-plus-lens packages starting at €39.
Is Krys a public or private company?
Krys is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Krys founded?
Krys was founded in 1966. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Krys based?
Krys is headquartered in Bazainville, France, in the Europe region.
How does Krys make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Optical Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are eye Care Services, smart/Connected Glasses and contact Lens Subscriptions.
Who are Krys's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Specsavers and EssilorLuxottica. Direct peers are Générale d'Optique, Optical Center, Atol, GrandOptical and Alain Afflelou. Emerging players are Mister Spex, Polette and Warby Parker.
Does Krys have an API?
No public API is recorded for Krys.
What industry is Krys in?
Krys's product category is Optical Retail and Audiology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAL, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAB, Sunglasses (Non-Prescription). Its NAICS code is 45613 and its SIC code is 3851.