What Gerland Hörgeräte does

Gerland Hörgeräte is a privately held German hearing aid retail chain founded in 1966 and headquartered in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company operates approximately 80 branches across Germany through a mix of wholly-owned locations, jointly-controlled partnership brands (e.g., Gerland & Hengstermann, Gerland & Mellentin, hörwerk by Gerland, Blümchen + Gerland Hörakustik), and specialty centers (terzo-Zentrum for tinnitus care). It serves individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus patients, children (Pädakustik), industrial/trade workers needing occupational hearing protection, and musicians, with audiology services including hearing tests, fittings, six-year aftercare packages, and a home-visit service.

The core product portfolio spans hearing aids in all standard form factors — Receiver-in-Canal (RIC), Completely-in-Canal (CIC), In-the-Ear (IdO), Behind-the-Ear (HdO), pediatric devices, and implantable hearing systems — distributed as manufacturer-agnostic offerings across five pricing tiers from the €300–€899 Entry Class to the €2,600+ Premium Class, plus a zero-co-payment Nulltarif Plus tier covered by statutory health insurance. Technical differentiation is concentrated in the ICP® hearing aid line (developed by Hörluchs), which combines amplification with certified personal protective equipment for noisy workplaces and integrates Bluetooth and Roger wireless microphone systems. Accessories, hearing protection products (sleeping, swimming, music, motorsport, hunting, industrial), and cochlear implant support round out the offering.

The business model is direct-to-consumer retail through the branch network, with revenue generated from hearing aid sales (one-time plus statutory insurance reimbursement processing), the three-year Hörgeräte-Abo subscription for technology refresh, accessories (including via the hoergeraete-direkt.de e-commerce shop), and corporate/B2B hearing protection sales. Pricing is transparent by co-payment tier, and the company handles insurance paperwork end-to-end. No external investment, PE backing, or public listing is indicated; ownership appears founder- or family-controlled.

Name

Gerland Hörgeräte

Legal name

Gerland Hörgeräte

Website

https://gerland.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gerland Hörgeräte is a German hearing aid retailer founded in 1966, operating approximately 80 branches across Germany through owned and jointly-controlled partnership brands. It sells hearing aids across all price tiers, tinnitus care, pediatric audiology, and certified occupational hearing protection to individual and corporate customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Aid Retail and Audiology Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)

Keywords

• Hearing aid retail
• Audiology services
• Hearing protection
• Tinnitus care
• Pediatric audiology

Headquarters

HQ city

Aerzen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices78 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hearing Aid Sales: Sale of hearing aids across multiple performance classes (entry-level through premium) and form factors (RIC, CIC, IdO, HdO). Revenue is generated through direct retail branches, with statutory health insurance reimbursement processing handled for customers.
2. Hearing Aid Subscription (Abo): A three-year subscription model offering new hearing systems from the current portfolio every three years for a fixed monthly fee, independent of insurance coverage.
3. Hearing Aid Accessories: Sale of accessories including hearing aid batteries, charging stations, TV accessories, care and cleaning products, and wireless systems.
4. Hearing Protection: Sale of hearing protection products for sleeping, travel, swimming, children, office/learning, industrial trades, hunting/shooting, motorsport, music/parties/events, and in-ear monitoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gerland Hörgeräte is a German hearing aid retailer and audiology service provider selling hearing aids across all major form factors (RIC, CIC, IdO, HdO), children's hearing aids, implantable hearing systems, and ICP® workplace hearing-protection devices. The company operates approximately 80 branches across Germany offering hearing tests, professional fitting, tinnitus consultation, pediatric audiology (Pädakustik), and cochlear implant support, complemented by a hearing aid subscription (Hörgeräte-Abo), hearing protection products, and accessories.

Product overview

Gerland Hörgeräte is a German hearing aid retailer and hearing care specialist founded in 1966, operating as a multi-location network across Germany. The core product portfolio centers on hearing aids across multiple form factors: Ex-Hörer-Systeme (RIC), Mini-Im-Ohr-Hörgeräte (CIC), Im-Ohr-Hörgeräte (IdO), Hinter-dem-Ohr-Systeme (HdO), plus specialized offerings including pediatric hearing aids, implantable systems, and ICP® hearing aids with integrated workplace hearing protection. The company operates under a multi-tiered pricing model including the "Nulltarif Plus" (zero-cost covered by insurance), five performance tiers from Entry Class (€300-899) to Premium Class (from €2,600), and a subscription model (Hörgeräte-Abo). Services include professional consultation, fitting, tinnitus care, pediatric audiology (Pädakustik), and cochlear implant support. The accessory portfolio covers hearing protection for various activities, batteries, charging stations, TV accessories, and wireless systems including Roger. Additional services include home visits and comprehensive six-year service packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nulltarif Plus: Zero-cost hearing aid package offered by Gerland, providing hearing systems at no cost to customers with statutory health insurance coverage.
• Hörgeräte-Abo
• terzo-Zentrum

Products and services

• Ex-Hörer-Systeme (RIC) Receiver-in-Canal hearing aids placing the speaker inside the ear canal while the main body sits behind the ear; available from entry-level through premium technology classes for individuals with hearing loss.
• Mini-Im-Ohr-Hörgeräte (CIC) Completely-in-Canal hearing aids that sit nearly invisibly in the ear canal, designed for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss.
• Im-Ohr-Hörgeräte (IdO) Custom-made in-the-ear hearing aids that fit individually in the outer ear, offering comfort and ease of use for hearing aid wearers.
• Hinter-dem-Ohr-Systeme (HdO) Behind-the-ear hearing aids offering high performance levels with simple handling and excellent sound quality for hearing-impaired individuals.
• Hörgeräte für Kinder Specialized hearing aids designed and fitted for children, addressing hearing loss from mild to profound levels with pediatric-specific expertise.
• Implantierbare Hörsysteme Implantable hearing systems providing an alternative solution for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss.
• ICP®-Hörgeräte Insulating Communication Plastic hearing aids combining hearing amplification with certified personal protective equipment for noisy industrial workplaces; available in RIC, HdO, and IdO form factors.
• Phonak Lyric The first 100% invisible hearing aid that can be worn continuously for several months, placed deep in the ear canal by a Gerland specialist.
• Nulltarif Plus Zero-cost hearing aid option covering the full range of hearing systems from power aids to nearly invisible in-the-ear models, fully covered by statutory health insurance with an enhanced service package including personal consultation and master craftsman fitting.
• Hörgeräte-Abo (Hearing Aid Subscription) Three-year subscription service providing new hearing systems from the current portfolio every three years for a fixed monthly fee, independent of health insurance coverage.
• Gehörschutz (Hearing Protection) Custom hearing protection solutions for various activities including sleeping, swimming, travel, children, office/learning, industrial/craft, hunting/shooting sports, motorsport, music/events, in-ear monitoring, and corporate (Firmenkunden) use.
• Hörgerätezubehör (Hearing Aid Accessories) Accessories including hearing aid batteries, charging stations, TV accessories, cleaning and care products, and wireless systems.
• Gerland Servicepakete (Service Packages) Comprehensive service packages bundled with hearing aid purchase, covering six years of regular service, follow-up checks, cleaning, repairs, cleaning supplies, guarantee, loss insurance, and discounted accessories.
• Hausbesuchsservice (Home Visit Service) Mobile hearing service bringing hearing tests, fittings, and adjustments to customers in their homes, suitable for customers unable to visit a branch.
• Hörgeräteberatung (Hearing Aid Consultation) Professional hearing consultation including hearing tests, trial wearing, fitting, and follow-up care services for hearing aid customers.
• Tinnitus-Beratung (Tinnitus Consultation) Professional tinnitus consultation services for individuals experiencing ringing, whistling, or humming in the ears, with management solutions.
• Pädakustik (Pediatric Audiology) Specialized hearing solutions and care tailored for children and adolescents with congenital or acquired hearing loss.
• Cochlea Implantate CI-Servicezentrum (Cochlear Implant Service Center) Specialized service center for cochlear implant users providing fitting, adjustment, and ongoing support.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• WS Audiology: Holding company for Signia, Widex, and other hearing aid brands with growing retail operations in Europe. Comparable as a hearing aid manufacturer that increasingly engages directly with end customers.
• Demant: Danish hearing aid group (Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic) with growing direct retail presence in Europe. Comparable as both a hearing aid supplier and increasingly as a retail competitor pursuing vertical integration.
• Sonova (incl. audibene): Swiss hearing aid manufacturer (Phonak, Unitron) that has vertically integrated into retail via audibene. Comparable product portfolio (Phonak Lyric is sold by Gerland) and increasingly competes at the retail layer through audibene's direct-to-consumer model.
• GN Store Nord (ReSound, Beltone): Danish hearing aid manufacturer with direct retail brands (Beltone, Hidden Hearing). Comparable in offering hearing aids through both retail partners and owned retail channels in Europe.

Direct peers

• Amplifon: Italy-based global hearing aid retail chain with significant German presence. Directly comparable multi-country retail model with branch networks, insurance partnerships, and similar product/service portfolio.
• Hörgeräte Bonsel: German independent hearing aid retail chain operating in regional German markets. Directly comparable multi-branch hearing care specialist focused on German statutory insurance customers.
• KIND Hörgeräte / Fielmann Hörgeräte: Fielmann-owned hearing aid retail chain (formerly KIND), Germany's largest hearing care specialist network with hundreds of branches. Closest direct competitor in scale, multi-branch retail, and German statutory insurance-driven model.

Regional players

• Neuroth Group: Austrian family-owned hearing aid retail chain with strong DACH (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) presence. Comparable multi-branch retail model with similar insurance-driven economics and service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Hörluchs Hearing & Protection: German manufacturer of ICP® hearing aids and custom hearing protection. Direct upstream partner of Gerland and a comparable niche player in occupational hearing protection products.
• audibene: Germany-based direct-to-consumer hearing aid online retailer (now owned by Sonova). Comparable offering of multi-brand hearing aids with online consultation, representing the digital-native retail model that competes with Gerland's physical branches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerland-hoergeraete

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Gerland Hörgeräte