Positive Outlook for Tackle Giants Rapala and Shimano!

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Angling International

Two of the world’s biggest fishing tackle manufacturers saw their sales for the first half of 2015 increase on the previous year.

For the majority of last year, Rapala VMC Corporation was burdened by the costs of the changeover of production of its lure manufacturing unit from China to Batam Island, Indonesia. However, with the new location now having a positive impact on profitability, the Finnish giant reported a comparable operating profit of €9.9 million (2014: €9.7 million) – up 2%. Its net sales for the period also increased 3% to €80.1 million (2014: €77.7 million).

Fishing sales at Japanese-based Shimano for the year increased 9.8% to 33,386 million yen and operating income increased 19.2% to 2,667 million yen.

The company said that a generally robust performance in North America, Western Europe, Oceania and New Zealand, helped make up for a comparable decrease in sales in the Japanese market.

Positive comparable stores sales in a number of categories – including fishing – helped North America’s iconic outdoor sporting goods store, Cabala’s Incorporated, post a 9.9% increase in total revenue to $836.3 million for the second quarter of 2015.

Retail store revenue increased 13.9% to $570.1 million, while its internet sales fell 7%.