Johnson Outdoors Announces Plan to Enhance Competitiveness and Profit Potential of Watercraft Unit

Johnson Outdoors JOUT unveiled a comprehensive plan Wednesday to improve the profit profile of its Watercraft business. The effort includes a restructuring of the unit's U.S. and European operations and streamlining at its Old Town, Maine facility. Specifically: Watercraft will transition to a lower-cost local independent distributor business model in Europe by the end of July 2012. Watercraft R&D and marketing will move to Old Town, Maine from Bellingham, WA over the next year, consolidating all U.S. Watercraft personnel at one location to quicken the pace of new product development and speed-to-market. Streamlining at Old Town, Maine due to the capture of strategic synergies between Watercraft and Outdoor Gear, as well as position eliminations. In total, 17 positions in the U.S. and 11 in Europe were impacted by the actions announced Wednesday.