Earlier this week, a new mega-merger saw Tahe Outdoors, Europe’s leading paddlesports company, acquire Arrow Kayaks of Denmark. The acquisition grows the Tahe/Kayak Distribution family of brands to include a total of nine brands and over 150 models spanning all disciplines of kayaking.
Most U.S. and Canadian paddlers first heard about Tahe in 2012, when another new player emerged in the North American paddlesports marketplace. Kayak Distribution—based out of the old Riot Kayaks headquarters in Montreal, with satellite offices and warehouses on the West Coast in British Columbia and California—salvaged the Riot brand of whitewater and recreational kayaks, and resuscitated recently defunct Boreal Design sea kayaks and Beluga Accessories. Around the same time, Kayak Distribution owner Mark Pelland, and director of sales and marketing, Mark Hall, reached an agreement with Tahe Outdoors to bring Tahe and Zegul kayaks (and Trapper canoes) to North American shores for the first time.
In July 2013, we reported on Kayak Distribution’s acquisition of longstanding Vancouver Island-based Seaward Kayaks’ entire thermoformed division, adding 11 more models to the KD lines. The purchase of Arrow Kayaks strengthens Tahe/KD’s portfolios in the premium sea kayak segment.
Janek Pohla, President of Tahe Outdoors, sums up the strategic benefit of the acquisition: “Tahe Outdoors is already number one in Scandinavia, and this acquisition solidifies our position in the performance sea kayak market.” Arrow Kayaks has an outstanding reputation among Scandinavian kayakers for their superior quality and design. Arrow models will now be produced under the Zegul Marine label.
Taking a cue from mega-farms and mega-retail, Tahe and Kayak Distribution’s acquisitions and strategic partnerships bring the benefits of higher sales volume and unprecedented ease of distribution through the companies’ vast distribution networks. Reciprocal sales agreements between partners mean that the entire product lines of every brand are now available to each company’s respective customer bases. “Consolidating resources and operations benefits everyone,” says Pelland.
The Tahe Outdoors/Kayak Distribution portfolio currently consists of nine international brands: Tahe Marine, Egalis, Zegul, Trapper, Beluga, Riot, Boreal Design, Seaward and Arrow Kayaks. Production facilities in Quebec, Estonia, France and China ship boats to dealers in over 35 countries.
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