Iconic lure company faces bright future
Category: press release
Oct 8th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Oct 8th, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Bandit Lures faces a bright future following its acquisition by one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fishing brands.
That is the belief of Chris Ross, the owner of Bandit Lures for the last 21 years before its takeover by PRADCO Outdoor Brands (POB) last week.
He said: “I have lived and breathed Bandit all the time I have been involved and it has become a very important part of my life. I am very excited that it has become part of the PRADCO family and I look forward to working with the new team and feel very good about the future.
“PRADCO has proven over time that it cares deeply about historic fishing lure brands such as Heddon, Arbogast, Bomber and many others.”
Ross will remain on board as Brand Manager and report to Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of the POB Fishing Division. He will continue to live in Mississippi and help lead product and brand development.
Bandit was founded in 1976 by Jim Winter, who launched a series of spinnerbaits. However, it was in 1980 that Bandit exploded onto the crankbait scene with the 200 Series which has evolved into one of the workhorse crankbaits in competitive recreational bass fishing. It eventually launched other household names like the 100, 300 and Footloose series.
Following the sale, the Bandit operation in Sardis, Mississippi has been closed and the business is being operated from POB’s Fishing Division in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where all product development and marketing functions will be carried out.
The Bandit brand is now being sold and represented by the PRADCO Outdoor Brands Sales Group and its lures shipped to customers from the POB distribution centre in Calera, Alabama.
“We can now ship all of our fishing and hunting brands from the same facility on the same PO,” said POB President, Ron Ten Berge. “This is a major benefit to our customers and consumers.”
Bruce Stanton said: “Bandit is an iconic brand with a strong crankbait product set for bass fishing. Chris Ross has done a tremendous job with product development – particularly colours – and will be an important part of the brand going forward.”