Bass Pro pledges support for employees as boat operation relocates

Bass Pro Shops’ boat making operation is leaving Midway, Arkansas to return to a newly-expanded facility in nearby Flippin.

The company says the decision is due to economic conditions and rising interest rates for boat loans. Employees at the Midway factory, which produces White River Marine Group and Triton Boats, were notified of the move yesterday (Wednesday).

“Our Flippin facility has been producing Ranger boats for over 55 years,” said a Bass Pro statement. “Taking care of our people has always been a priority and we are deeply committed to ensuring every one of our Midway outfitters is supported through the transition.”

The company is working with employees on options to best support them, including transfers to other locations within the business. It also said that re-utilising the Midway facility is an ‘absolute top priority’ and that options are being ‘aggressively explored.’

Bass Pro has invested in technology at Flippin to build a new generation of high-performance aluminium Ranger boats.

It was in 1978 that Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris introduced Tracker Boats, which has reportedly become the number one selling fishing boat brand in the US. White River Marine Group also lays claim to being the world’s largest builder of fishing and recreational boats by volume.