Lapperre

Lapperre is a Belgian hearing-care retailer and audiology service brand that traces its origins to 1948. It describes itself as a reference in hearing aids, with more than seven decades of experience in helping people hear better and protect their hearing. The company operates a nationwide network of hearing centres — more than 220 according to its own corporate information — staffed by over 250 audiologists who advise customers on hearing tests, hearing-aid selection, fitting and aftercare. Lapperre's business is built around retail audiology rather than manufacturing. Its centres offer free online hearing tests, in-person audiological assessments, and a range of hearing-aid styles and models. The product line-up it promotes is dominated by Phonak devices, including the custom-made Phonak Virto R Infinio, the Phonak Infinio Ultra, and the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio, which the company presents as the world's first hearing aid with a dedicated AI chip (DEEPSONIC) for sound processing. This reflects Lapperre's role as a retail and service channel for Sonova's hearing-aid brands in Belgium. Ownership places Lapperre inside the Swiss Sonova group. Lapperre is part of Sonova Retail Belgium SA, a division of Sonova, which describes itself as the world's leading provider of hearing solutions and which owns brands such as Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton, Advanced Bionics and AudioNova. Sonova was founded in 1947 and is present in more than 100 countries. In November 2018 the Belgian retail brand AudioNova ceased to exist as a separate identity and was merged into Lapperre, consolidating Sonova's Belgian retail audiology operations under a single name. Lapperre positions itself on trust, proximity and expertise: its marketing emphasises that customers should not entrust their ears to just anyone, and that its audiologists take time to listen and to find the right solution together with the customer. Its tagline, "du bonheur plein les oreilles, depuis 77 ans" (happiness in your ears for 77 years), underlines both longevity and an emotional, wellbeing-oriented brand promise. The company operates primarily in Belgium, with a French- and Dutch-language web presence and a network of local hearing centres intended to ensure that a Lapperre centre is always nearby.

Lapperre's origins date to 1948, when the business began operating in Belgium in the field of hearing care. According to the company's own account, it has been helping people hear better and protect their hearing since that year, and it has built up more than seventy years of experience and expertise. Over the decades it developed a network of hearing centres across Belgium, growing into a recognisable retail audiology brand with a local presence in many towns and cities. The company's growth was supported by medical and technical developments in hearing-aid technology, which allowed Lapperre to keep upgrading the solutions it offered to customers. Its model combined retail distribution of hearing aids with professional audiology services: hearing testing, device selection, fitting, fine-tuning and ongoing aftercare. By the 2010s the network had expanded to more than 220 hearing centres, staffed by more than 250 audiologists, according to the company's corporate information. A significant turning point came in November 2018, when the Belgian retail brand AudioNova ceased to exist and was merged fully into Lapperre. AudioNova and Lapperre combined their knowledge and expertise under the single Lapperre name, with the stated aim of offering customers an even better service. This consolidation simplified Sonova's Belgian retail audiology operations under one brand. Lapperre is part of Sonova Retail Belgium SA, a division of the Swiss Sonova group. Sonova, founded in 1947, describes itself as the world's leading provider of hearing solutions and owns brands including Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton, Advanced Bionics and AudioNova. Through these brands Sonova distributes hearing aids, cochlear implants and wireless communication solutions, and it is present in more than 100 countries. Lapperre therefore operates as the Belgian retail and service arm of a global hearing-technology group, selling and fitting products such as the Phonak Virto R Infinio, Phonak Infinio Ultra and Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio. In its marketing, Lapperre emphasises longevity and trust — its homepage tagline refers to "77 years" of putting happiness in customers' ears — and it continues to promote services such as free online hearing tests, online appointment booking and a nationwide network of hearing centres. The company communicates in French and Dutch, reflecting Belgium's main language communities.

• 2018

  In November, the Belgian retail brand AudioNova ceases to exist and is fully merged into Lapperre.

• 1948

  Lapperre's origins begin in Belgium in the field of hearing care.

Trusted, proximity-based Belgian hearing-care retailer offering expert audiology advice and premium Sonova/Phonak hearing aids.

• Phonak Virto R Infinio

  Custom-made hearing aids described by Lapperre as discreet and powerful, resembling modern earbuds and suited to an active lifestyle.

• Phonak Infinio Ultra

  Hearing aid promoted by Lapperre with AI-powered technology for exceptional sound.

• Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio

  Presented by Lapperre as the world's first hearing aid with a dedicated AI chip, DEEPSONIC, for sound processing and instant filtering of unwanted noise.

• Free online hearing test

  A free online test offered by Lapperre to quickly and reliably indicate whether a person still hears well.

1. 1Lapperre, du bonheur plein les oreilles, depuis 77 anslapperre.be
2. 2À propos de Lapperrelapperre.be
3. 3Lapperrewikidata.org