The past year was one of upheaval and change in the fishing industry.
Going into 2017, Canadian anglers were adjusting to the closure of the LeBaron stores and its associated catalogue sales.
Another major hit on the retail front was seen in western Canada with the closure of Wholesale Sports stores and internet sales.
Manufacturers and wholesalers also took a hit. The largest was Maurice Sporting Goods, a significant American-based distributor of hunting and fishing goods in Canada, which filed for bankruptcy in 2017. According to SGB Media, however, the company was acquired by Middleton Partners in early January 2018 and is no longer operating under court protection. According to the release, the company said it is, “primed to reclaim its position as the dominant sporting goods distributor in the nation,” with investments planned to support growth this year.
The completion of the Bass Pro/Cabela’s merger also took place last year. How this will affect the Canadian market remains to be seen. Plans for new stores for the SAIL chain were also announced, but details have not been confirmed.
Originally published in the Ontario OUT of DOORS 2018 Fishing Annual
