Vista owns Federal and other ammunition brands and a portfolio of other outdoor brands such as Camp Chef outdoor cooking equipment, Bell and Giro bicycle helmets and CamelBak hydration products.
It added Remington assets in October for $81.4 million. The deal included the Remington brand, trademarks and accessories business and the main ammunition-production facility in Lonoke. Remington’s other assets, including its firearms division, were acquired by other bidders.
The Lonoke plant typically employs 700 to 800 people, and during peak production has had more than 1,000 employees. But during the disruptions caused by the bankruptcies in 2018 and earlier this year, employment had dipped below 400.
Vista is now bringing back at least 300 more employees, including employees who had previously been furloughed or laid off.
The town of Lonoke has about 4,250 residents, and the Remington plant, built in 1969, is one of the town’s major employers and a source of community pride. Sachse said many Remington employees have more than 30 years of experience and families in the area who have had multiple generations working at the plant.
– Patrick Kennedy in Purchase of Remington ammunition already has meant hiring, manufacturing boost for Anoka’s Vista