Luxottica Group has bounced back from a decline in growth, posting second quarter sales of 3.5 per cent.

The Milan, Italy based company and owner of Australian retail interests including the OPSM, Sunglass Hut, Budget Eyewear Laubman & Pank and Bright Eyes chains, said that while the company had seen an extremely difficult January and February, stabilisation of the market had taken place in the following months.

Sunglass Hut, the group's sun specialty chain that operates globally, reported overall comparable store sales for the quarter down by 9 per cent, with performance very positive in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK but still negative in North America.

Net sales for the quarter at the retail division rose 7 per cent, while operating margin declined to 14 per cent for the quarter, from 15.5 per cent in the same period last year.

Comparable store sales in Asia-Pacific for the quarter were down by 3.4 per cent, while its optical business in North America declined by 8 per cent, notwithstanding good results at Sears Optical and Target Optical, which were up by 2.2 per cent.

Andrea Guerra, CEO of Luxottica said, "We outlined our priorities for 2009 from the very beginning: a solid financial position and an immediate search for a new equilibrium and efficiencies in manufacturing and distribution, while maintaining our commitment to growth and the search for new solutions that would support the long-term growth of Luxottica."