Bass Pro Shops, with the White River Marine Group, has acquired watersports brand Hobie, with plans to return Hobie production and jobs from Mexico back to Lebanon, Missouri.
White River Marine Group’s family of brands includes Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Sun Tracker, Regency, Ascend, Tahoe, Triton, Mako, Hatteras, and now Hobie. The agreement unites two well-known watercraft manufacturers: Johnny Morris and Hobie Alter, who have been designing boats for a combined 128 years.
Morris started Bass Pro Shops from just an eight-square-foot space in the back of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, in 1972. Six years later, he introduced the BASS TRACKER®, the first-ever nationally marketed pre-rigged boat, motor and trailer package. Alter launched his company in 1950 in his parents’ garage, handcrafting a surfboard into a multi-watercraft company now holding 20 patents, from sailboats to pedal-drive kayaks.
Hobie will return production to the US inear Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine Group’s birthplace in the Missouri Ozarks. White River and Hobie boats are sold worldwide in over 70 countries, with Hobie’s dealer Network now supported with BassPro’s marketing resources. Bass Pro Shops have also donated more than 10% of their earnings to support conservation. “Uniting with Hobie is a very proud day in our company’s history,” said Morris. “We extend Hobie Dealers a warm welcome to our White River Family. We are deeply committed to Hobie and supporting its dealer network as we embark on a very bright future together.“
Added Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe: “We’re proud to see Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine Group deepening their commitment to Missouri through this expansion. This investment is strengthening the community of Lebanon while contributing to Missouri’s reputation as a prime destination for both business and outdoor adventure.”
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About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, was founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris started selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. That was the company’s sole location for the first 13 years, and it has since grown to nearly 200 retail locations throughout North America. Today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Newsweek as “America’s Best Outdoor Retailer” for four consecutive years and “America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”