I see better with Varilux than Hoya lenses. Is it the lenses or the lab?

As someone new to progressive lenses, I've been reading up on the optics involved, and I see that there are many different designs, compromises, advantages, and disadvantages across brands.

I bought a pair of glasses from a shop that sells [primarily?] Hoya lenses. They worked well for reading, but my distance vision wasn't good--only a narrow area of clarity with significant blurring even a few degrees off center. They replaced them with a higher model (from the markings, I can see they're Hoyalux iD InStyle), but they seem about the same.

I wanted another data point, so I went to another store and bought another pair of glasses with what turn out to be Varilux Physio [360?] lenses. They're much better for distance--significantly sharper across a larger area. The reading area is slightly decreased, but overall a much better compromise.

My question is, why is this? From this board, Hoya lenses seem well regarded--perhaps more so than Varilux. Is this a matter of different lenses work better for different people, or could there be an issue with how the Hoya lenses (both times) were made? I'd just like to know so I can plan for next time around.

In case it matters, the Hoya lenses' index of refraction is 1.67 and the Varilux 1.74. My prescription is -6 with an add of 1.75.