Bass Pro Shops cuts 78 Winnipeg office jobs

Bass Pro Shops cut nearly 80 Winnipeg office jobs Wednesday, citing “changing market dynamics.”

The Missouri-based company merged with Cabela’s eight years ago. The brands made a restructuring decision resulting in 78 positions being eliminated, an email signed by Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops Communications reads.

Cabela’s has its Canadian corporate office at 25 De Baets St. in Winnipeg.

“This new structure is intended to promote unity and consistency between U.S. and Canadian operations and better and more efficiently support our people and our customers,” the joint statement reads.

It didn’t answer how many staff remain at the Winnipeg office or which positions were affected. The terminations represent a 3.1 per cent reduction of the company’s 2,438 Canadian workforce. Staff working in the company’s 16 Canadian stores aren’t affected, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s said.

Every employee leaving will receive severance, extended benefits and transition support, the statement noted.

“The decision to eliminate any staff position is something the company considers with great care,” Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops wrote.

“We know we have the best professionals in the industry. At the same time, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops are steadfast in our commitment to deliver the absolute best value in the marketplace and this requires us to remain efficient.”

Bass Pro Shops announced its plan to acquire Cabela’s for roughly US$5.5 billion in 2016. At the time, Cabela’s had 85 outlets, mostly in Canada and the western United States. Bass Pro Shops, meanwhile, had 99 stores and Tracker Marine Centres largely found in the countries’ eastern sides.

Bass Pro Shops now counts almost 200 retail stores and marine centres across the continent.

Cabela’s first opened its flagship store in Winnipeg, at 580 Sterling Lyon Pkwy., in 2013. The sign changed to say Bass Pro Shops last year.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com