Laporte Corporate
Laporte Corporate is a French family-owned manufacturer founded in 1927 that designs clay pigeon launchers, biodegradable targets, and simulated hunting systems for Olympic shooting sports, shooting clubs, and government hunting license programs across 80+ countries, producing 600 million targets and 3,000 launchers annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersBiot, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Laporte Corporate does
Laporte Corporate is a French family-owned manufacturer founded in 1927 by Emile Laporte and now in its third generation of family leadership under Jean-Michel Laporte and his sons Frédéric and Thomas. The company designs and builds clay pigeon launchers and biodegradable clay targets for Olympic shooting disciplines (trap, skeet, sporting, DTL, American trap), simulated hunting systems, and government hunting license examination infrastructure. Its technology stack is mechanical and electro-mechanical — including patented ATRDI instant trigger, three-point target retention, anti-vibration launching arms, and variable-speed projection systems — protected by a portfolio of more than 90 registered patents. Operations span six manufacturing and distribution sites across France (Biot headquarters, Formerie target factory, Sermaize logistics), the United Kingdom (Bottesford), the United States (Pounding Mill, Virginia), and Italy (Gualdo Tadino), serving customers in more than 80 countries.
The business operates through a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct enterprise field sales via regional subsidiary offices, an e-commerce storefront for spare parts, sportswear, and accessories, and event-driven demand from Olympic Games, ISSF World Cups, and national federation competitions. Revenue is generated from one-time launcher sales (priced on quote basis, with public skeet SKUs between €5,829 and €7,699), high-volume recurring consumable revenue from clay targets (€92.50 per case for standard competition eco), spare parts, sportswear, and complete simulated game/hunting exam installations. The company has been the official supplier of targets and launchers for ten Olympic Games since Rome 1960, most recently Paris 2024, and holds long-standing partnerships with ISSF, FITASC, CPSA, NSSA/NSCA, FFBT, and FFTir. Production capacity reaches 600 million targets per year at the Formerie automated facility and 3,000 launcher machines annually across the group, supported by 89 employees.
The customer base spans Olympic and international competition organizers, shooting clubs and ranges worldwide, individual hunters seeking off-season training, and government wildlife authorities requiring standardized hunting license exam systems. The Winchester brand distribution agreement, secured by Jean-Michel Laporte in 1990, expanded North American market reach and remains an important channel. The company is privately held with no external investment, no public listing, and no parent entity, with continuity anchored in three generations of Laporte family ownership and institutional knowledge passed to long-tenured technicians.
Laporte Corporate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Laporte Corporate
- Legal name
- Laporte
- Website
- https://laporte.biz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Laporte Corporate is a French family-owned manufacturer founded in 1927 that designs clay pigeon launchers, biodegradable targets, and simulated hunting systems for Olympic shooting sports, shooting clubs, and government hunting license programs across 80+ countries, producing 600 million targets and 3,000 launchers annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Laporte Corporate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clay Target Shooting Equipment
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection) (CRAMAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hunt, Fish & Shooting Sports Distribution (CRAOAJAC)
Keywords
Where Laporte Corporate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Biot
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Laporte Corporate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Launcher Sales: Sale of clay pigeon launcher machines across multiple product lines (Olympic trap, Skeet, Sporting/Compak, DTL, American Trap, Training, Gravity Range). Revenue is one-time with product delivery, though after-sales service and spare parts provide ongoing revenue from installed base.
- Target/Clay Pigeon Sales: Sale of clay targets in various types (Standard Competition, Grand Prix, Flash, Mini/Midi, Rabbit, Battue) and resin formulations (RP, ECO/ECOBIRD, NATURAL). High-volume consumable product generating recurring revenue.
- Spare Parts and Accessories: Online sales of spare parts including springs, arms, control boards, connectors, barrels, anti-return mechanisms, motors, launch plates, and electrical components. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel.
- Sportswear and Apparel: Branded sportswear line including t-shirts, polos, caps, jackets, technical clothing, shooting vests, and accessories. E-commerce sales to individual consumers and clubs.
- Simulated Game Systems: Complete hunting simulation systems including running boar tracks, trailers, launcher configurations, and target silhouettes for hunting license testing and off-season training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Skeet launcher models (6C, 8C, 12C, 18C) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clay targets - standard and specialty |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Simulated game products |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Training launchers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Laporte Corporate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Laporte Corporate manufactures and globally distributes clay pigeon launchers, clay targets, simulated game-bird systems and shooting sportswear, accessories and spare parts from its French headquarters. The family-owned firm supplies shooting clubs, national federations, Olympic committees and individual shooters across more than 80 countries, with annual capacity of roughly 600 million clay targets and up to 3,000 launching machines.
Product overview
Laporte Corporate is the world's leading manufacturer of clay pigeon traps (launchers) and targets, established in 1927 with a portfolio spanning 90+ patents. The product architecture consists of two core divisions: Olympic & Competition Launchers (Fosse Olympique, Skeet Precision, DTL, American Trap, Twinlap, and Individual Training models with barrel capacities from 6C to 18C columns) and Clay Targets (Grand Prix 24g, Competition Standard, FLASH, and Special targets including Mini/Midi/Rabbit/Battue in RP, ECO/ECOBIRD, and NATURAL resin variants). Supporting products include Simulated Game systems (Running Boar, configurable trailers, hunting exam installations), accessories, spare parts, and sportswear. Manufacturing capacity reaches 600 million targets annually across French and British facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Laporte Industries: Manufacturing division responsible for producing clay pigeon targets at the Formerie factory in France.
- Laporte CPC (Clay Pigeon Company)
Products and services
- Clay Pigeon Launchers Mechanical clay target launching machines for Olympic trap, skeet, sporting, DTL and American trap disciplines, sold to shooting clubs, federations, ranges and event organizers worldwide.
- Clay Targets Standard and biodegradable clay targets in multiple specifications, colors and sizes for use across competitive and recreational shooting disciplines.
- Simulated Game Systems Game-simulation equipment that emulates the flight patterns of game birds, intended for shooting clubs, training ranges and hunters seeking realistic practice scenarios.
- Shooting Sportswear and Apparel Branded shooting clothing and apparel sold via the company's online retail channel to individual shooters and shooting sports enthusiasts.
- Shooting Accessories and Spare Parts Accessories, consumables and spare parts for Laporte launchers and shooting ranges, supplied to existing customers and individual shooters.
Quantifiable outcome
- <1% no-bird rate; 0.027% at 2018 NSSA World Skeet Championship
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Laporte Corporate
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Laporte Corporate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Laporte Corporate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Gamekeepers' Welfare Trust (GWT)minorUK charitable organization supporting gamekeepers. Laporte supports GWT as part of community engagement and shooting sport advocacy.
- WinchestercoreExclusive contract obtained by Jean-Michel Laporte with the American Winchester brand during the 1990s, expanding distribution through Winchester's established channels.
- CPSA (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association)coreUK governing body for clay pigeon shooting. Laporte DTL launchers are designed to conform to CPSA rules. Active partnership in UK competition infrastructure.
- NSSA/NSCA (National Skeet Shooting Association)coreUS National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association. Laporte Skeet launchers achieved 0.027% no-bird rate at 2018 NSSA World Championship.
- FFBT (Fédération Française de Ball Trap)coreFrench Ball Trap Federation. Primary national governing body partnership for French market competitions.
- FFTir (Fédération Française de Tir)coreFrench Shooting Federation. Laporte was official supplier for CNTS Châteauroux national shooting center inauguration.
- ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation)flagshipInternational governing body. Official equipment supplier for Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cups. All Laporte equipment meets ISSF competition specifications.
- FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir Ambulant et Sportif de Chasse)coreInternational sporting clay and compak federation. Laporte is official supplier for European Championships, World Championships, and Grand Prix events in FITASC disciplines.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Laporte Corporate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Garbi Sport: Spanish manufacturer of clay target launchers for sporting, Olympic trap, and skeet disciplines. Regional competitor in the Iberian and Latin American markets with comparable product range.
- Sportarm S.r.l. Italian manufacturer of clay target machines and related shooting sport equipment, primarily serving the Italian and southern European markets. Comparable in launcher technology with a smaller regional footprint.
- Eurotarget S.r.l. Italian manufacturer of clay targets, competing with Laporte in the European target market, particularly in FITASC sporting and Compak disciplines.
Direct peers
- Champion Traps & Targets: US-based manufacturer of clay target throwers and targets, owned by Vista Outdoor. Direct competitor in the personal and club-grade launcher segment, with strong US retail distribution.
- Promatic International: UK-based direct competitor manufacturing clay pigeon launchers and traps for Olympic and competitive shooting. Comparable product portfolio across Olympic trap, skeet, and sporting disciplines, with similar focus on regulated competition specifications.
- White Flyer: Largest US manufacturer of clay targets, competing with Laporte in the target consumables segment. Operates large-scale automated production facilities similar to Laporte Industries, with overlap in sporting clays and trap competition markets.
- Do All Outdoors: US-based manufacturer of clay target traps and automatic launchers serving the American Trap and sporting clays markets. Direct competitor in the trap/launcher category with overlapping customer base of shooting clubs and ranges.
Others
- Winchester (Olin Corporation): Historic Laporte licensing partner since 1990 for distribution in the US. Comparable in the broader shooting sports ecosystem; not a direct competitor in launchers but adjacent in ammunition and shooting accessories.
Emerging players
- Canfield Targets (formerly Black Lightning): US-based clay target manufacturer focused on premium targets including the biodegradable Eco-Flyer line. Direct competitor in the eco-friendly target segment with documented Olympic credentials.
Broad incumbents
- Beretta Holding: Italian broad incumbent in shooting sports owning firearms, accessories, and clay target launcher brands (e.g., Beretta, Benelli). Overlapping customer base in Olympic/clay shooting with broader portfolio reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Laporte Corporate social profiles
Digital presenceLaporte Corporate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Laporte Corporate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Laporte Corporate subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Laporte Corporate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Laporte Corporate 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 Laporte Corporate
What does Laporte Corporate do?
Laporte Corporate manufactures and globally distributes clay pigeon launchers, clay targets, simulated game-bird systems and shooting sportswear, accessories and spare parts from its French headquarters. The family-owned firm supplies shooting clubs, national federations, Olympic committees and individual shooters across more than 80 countries, with annual capacity of roughly 600 million clay targets and up to 3,000 launching machines.
Is Laporte Corporate a public or private company?
Laporte Corporate is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Laporte Corporate founded?
Laporte Corporate was founded in 1927. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Laporte Corporate based?
Laporte Corporate is headquartered in Biot, France, in the Europe region.
How does Laporte Corporate make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Launcher Sales are the primary driver. The others are target/Clay Pigeon Sales, spare Parts and Accessories, sportswear and Apparel and simulated Game Systems.
Who are Laporte Corporate's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Garbi Sport, Sportarm S.r.l. and Eurotarget S.r.l.. Direct peers are Champion Traps & Targets, Promatic International, White Flyer and Do All Outdoors. Winchester (Olin Corporation) is listed as an others. Canfield Targets (formerly Black Lightning) is listed as an emerging player. Beretta Holding is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Laporte Corporate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Laporte Corporate.
What industry is Laporte Corporate in?
Laporte Corporate's product category is Clay Target Shooting Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAKAG, Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection), with a secondary code of CRAOAJAC, Hunt, Fish & Shooting Sports Distribution. Its NAICS code is 339920 and its SIC code is 3949.