Bass Pro Shops further consolidates its manufacturing operations with plans to close and combine plants.
The news follows announcement earlier in 2024 of layoffs at its White River Marine Group’s American Ozarks aluminium operations facilities and within its White River Marine Group boat manufacturing division resulting in 176 employees being let go at three boat manufacturing facilities in Lebanon, Bolivar and Arkansas because of a downturn in sales.
In a statement, the company says it moved a portion of its boating factory in Bolivar to its plant in Lebanon, impacting 81 positions.
The company also plans to close its boating facility in Miami, Oklahoma, in January 2025. That production will go to its plant in Clinton, Mo.
“In response to a continued downturn in the overall recreational boating industry, we’ve made the decision to consolidate some of our operations,” said the statement.
“A portion of our Bolivar operations will combine into our Lebanon, Missouri, plant effective immediately, impacting 81 positions.
Manufacturing operations
“Our Miami plant will close in January 2025, impacting 148 positions while we relocate the production of boats previously built in Miami to our plant in Clinton, Missouri.”
The statement continued that despite the excellent work of employees and a series of business moves to help mitigate the downturn, the dual challenge of higher interest rates and inflation has proven too great to overcome with the company’s current structure.
“The decision to eliminate any position is something we take very seriously,” said the statement. “Our employees are the best in the industry, and they have never wavered in their commitment to build superior products for our customers.”
And the company said it had an ongoing commitment to deliver unmatched value, offering boats with payments as low as $5 to $10 per day.
The company says it will keep as many outfitters employed as possible and also pledged to explore alternate manufacturing possibilities for its Miami, Okla. manufacturing plant.
The White River Marine Group manufactures and distributes Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Regency, Tahoe, Mako and Ascend Kayaks.
