What Triton Hearing does

Triton Hearing is a New Zealand audiology retail and clinical services provider operated by Sonova Audiological Care New Zealand Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Switzerland-headquartered Sonova AG (listed on SIX: SOON). The company runs 60+ clinics across New Zealand and offers hearing assessments (free 15-minute checks and 75-minute comprehensive evaluations), hearing aid dispensing — primarily Sonova-manufactured Phonak and Unitron devices sold across multiple technology tiers — tele-audiology via the Triton TeleAudiology platform, and the Te Waka Čwhina mobile hearing clinic, a world-first service pairing in-person visits with remote clinical consultations.

The business generates revenue principally through hearing aid sales at tiered price points, supplemented by service-based revenue from assessments, fittings, and recurring aftercare delivered through the Lifetime Care program, the TritonCare+ extended warranty, the Better Hearing Guarantee, and the EasyHear monthly payment plan. Distribution is clinic-led but increasingly multi-channel: the company also distributes through partner networks including Southern Cross, Farmlands, and MTA, and processes government funding through ACC, the Ministry of Health, and Veterans' Affairs. The Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids (30,000+ copies ordered) signals investment in consumer education as an acquisition lever.

The cost structure is typical of a retail clinical model — clinic occupancy costs, audiologist compensation, and device procurement from the Sonova parent — while the lifetime-care and warranty programs introduce an annuity-like revenue layer that improves revenue predictability per customer cohort over multi-year horizons.

Name

Triton Hearing

Legal name

Sonova Audiological Care New Zealand Limited

Website

https://tritonhearing.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Triton Hearing is a New Zealand audiology retail chain operating 60+ clinics under Sonova AG, dispensing Phonak and Unitron hearing aids and delivering assessments, tele-audiology, mobile clinic services, and lifetime aftercare to individual consumers including government-funded clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Care Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

Keywords

• Audiology services
• Hearing aids
• Hearing assessments
• Tinnitus management
• Hearing care clinics

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hearing Aid Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling hearing aids. Hearing aids start at $495 (including government subsidy of $1,022.22). Various technology tiers from Accessible to Enhanced/PremiumPro ranges. Additional revenue from accessories, batteries, and hearing protection products sold through webshop.
2. TritonCare+ Extended Warranty: Annual extended warranty plan providing additional repair and replacement coverage beyond consumer rights. Priced at $250 per year per device (1 year plan) or $450 for 2 years per device. Includes annual consumables kit and loan aids during repairs.
3. Subscription Model (Legacy - Pay As You Hear): Legacy subscription model (no longer accepting new applications) offering hearing devices with bundled maintenance, care, support, batteries, and consumables. Monthly subscription fee with 30-day free trial period. Device upgrade to Phonak Lumity after 3 years.
4. Professional Services: Revenue from hearing assessments, hearing tests, device adjustments, fine-tuning, cleaning, and receiver replacements. Medical hearing tests requiring written reports incur $80 fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Triton Hearing is a nationwide audiology service provider operating more than 60 clinics across New Zealand, offering hearing assessments, hearing aids (primarily Phonak and Unitron brands), tinnitus management, and ongoing device care. The company combines in-clinic professional services with digital tools including online hearing screening and virtual TeleAudiology consultations, alongside an innovative mobile hearing clinic reaching remote communities.

Product overview

Triton Hearing operates as a nationwide hearing care provider in New Zealand with over 60 clinics, offering a comprehensive portfolio of hearing health products and services. Their core offering includes Phonak hearing aids across multiple technology tiers (Accessible, Essential, EssentialPlus, Premium, PremiumPlus, PremiumPro, and Enhanced ranges), complemented by free hearing checks and 75-minute hearing assessments. The company provides various financing options including EasyHear monthly payments and accepts ACC funding plus Ministry of Health subsidies. Additional services include TeleAudiology virtual care appointments, the innovative Te Waka Āwhina mobile hearing clinic, hearing protection products, batteries, and accessories. Support programs include TritonCare+ extended warranty, Better Hearing Guarantee with 60-day money-back guarantee, and Lifetime Care covering six years of clinical support. The company also publishes an annual Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids and offers free 10-day hearing aid trials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EasyHear: Monthly payment option for hearing aids providing flexible financing with 36 months interest free on Long Term Finance.

Products and services

• Phonak Hearing Aids Hearing aids across multiple technology tiers from entry-level Accessible range to premium Enhanced and PremiumPro devices, featuring Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone integration, and advanced audio processing for adults with hearing loss.
• Free 15-Minute Hearing Check

Quantifiable outcome

• Free 15-minute hearing checks for adults 18+
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southern Cross Health InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive partnership offering Southern Cross members $500 discount on pair of Phonak hearing devices ($250 for single device). Members receive free hearing checks and can combine discount with current promotional offers. Available to Southern Cross Health Insurance members aged 18+ on presentation of member card.
• Farmlands CardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFarmlands Card Partner offering members free hearing checks and 15% rebate on purchase price of hearing aids when paying with Farmlands card. Rebate can be used in conjunction with other offers.
• MTA (Motor Trade Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMTA Partner offering free hearing checks and 10% off hearing devices and hearing protection (both custom and universal) for MTA members, employees, and immediate family over 18 years. Discount can be applied on top of existing offers.
• Sonova AG (Parent Company)coreOthersSonova AG is the Swiss parent company of Sonova Audiological Care New Zealand Limited, trading as Triton Hearing. As part of the Sonova Group, Triton Hearing has access to leading hearing aid brands (Phonak, Unitron, Advanced Bionics), global audiology expertise, and Sonova's innovation pipeline. Sonova Group is described as world leaders in hearing solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WS Audiology: WS Audiology (Widex + Signia) is a global hearing aid manufacturer and retail audiology operator with direct-to-consumer brands. Comparable to Triton as a competing hearing-aid brand owner with retail channel interests in Oceania and globally.
• Demant: Demant is a global hearing care group (parent of Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic) with both manufacturing and retail audiology operations. It is comparable as a vertically integrated peer competing for the same NZ retail audiology channel through independent dispensers.
• Amplifon: Amplifon is the world's largest hearing aid retailer with thousands of clinics globally. While it does not have significant NZ retail presence, it is the global benchmark for retail audiology scale and operating model that Triton is benchmarked against.

Emerging players

• Eargo: Eargo is a DTC/OTC-style hearing aid company selling direct-to-consumer via telehealth. It represents the disruptive, non-clinic-based hearing aid model that competes for the same end-customer as Triton via a different delivery mechanism.
• Costco Hearing Aid Centers: Costco operates in-store hearing aid centers globally with a low-price direct retail model. It is comparable to Triton as an alternative hearing aid distribution channel, particularly for value-conscious consumers and those considering OTC-like self-fit alternatives.

Direct peers

• Bay Audio: Bay Audio is one of the largest hearing care retail chains in Australia and New Zealand, operating audiology clinics that dispense hearing aids. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Triton in the NZ audiology retail market.
• Specsavers Audiology: Specsavers has expanded into audiology services in New Zealand alongside its optical business, leveraging its high-street retail footprint. It is a directly comparable audiology retailer competing for the same NZ adult hearing-loss customers as Triton.
• Connect Hearing: Connect Hearing is another Sonova-owned retail audiology brand operating in North America, Australia, and other markets. It is a sister-company peer under the Sonova corporate umbrella, sharing product supply, clinical protocols, and go-to-market playbooks with Triton.

Regional players

• Audika: Audika (formerly National Hearing Care) operates a large network of retail audiology clinics across Australia. It is comparable to Triton as a retail audiology operator in the broader Oceania region with similar clinical service and device dispensing model.
• Hidden Hearing: Hidden Hearing operates retail audiology clinics in New Zealand and Ireland. It is a directly comparable regional peer running the same clinic-based audiology service and hearing aid dispensing model as Triton in the NZ market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Triton Hearing