Rapala

For the butterfly genus, see Rapala (butterfly).
Rapala VMC Corporation
Company typePublic
Nasdaq Helsinki: RAP1V
IndustryFishing
Founded1936; 88 years ago (1936) in Finland
FounderLauri Rapala
Headquarters
Helsinki
,
Finland
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Lars Ollberg (CEO)
Emmanuel Viellard (chairman)
ProductsFishing lures, tools, knives, clothing, accessories
Number of employees
Approximately 1,700 (2021)
SubsidiariesSufix, Storm, Peltonen, Marttiini, among others
Websitewww.rapala.com

Rapala (/ˈræpəlɑː/ RAP-ə-lah)[1] is a fishing product manufacturing company based in Finland. It was founded in 1936 by Lauri Rapala, who is credited for creating the world's first floating minnow lure carved from cork with a shoemaker's knife, covered with chocolate candy bar wrappers and melted photography film negatives, for a protective outer coating.[2] His first fishing lure was created and designed for the purpose of catching pike. The floating minnow lure later, once the Rapala company was created, went on to become the first Rapala lure.

The company produces a similar lure today. The construction of the lure is similar to how they were originally built, with the exception that the core is made from balsa wood instead of cork, and the outer coating is now paint and lacquer. The original floating minnow, now called the No. 9 floater, is the company's most popular lure.[3][4]

Rapala's lures are considered some of the world's leading baits and sold in 140 countries[3] with Field & Stream ranking Rapala's Original Floating Minnow the third of the "best topwater lures ever created" in 2019.[5]

Rapala's American subsidiary, Rapala USA, is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.[6] Design and development teams in the US and Finland work together to develop new lures or modify existing ones fishing tackle continues to evolve. The company still follows Lauri Rapala's practice of hand-testing each lure produced to make sure it performs as intended.[4] Their products are sold direct-to-consumer via eCommerce as well as through retailers including Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's in the United States.[6]

Rapala owns 100% of 13 Fishing (a group of brands primarily focused on anglers and fishing), and has exclusive rights to the Okuma fishing brand in Europe and Russia.[7][8] They also sponsor a number of professional fishermen.[9][10][11][12] Rapala CEO and President Nicolas Cederström Warchalowski believes Okuma acquisition will embark the group on a growth journey and he is also open for new acquisitions after the pan-European Okuma launch in 2022.[8]

For the period of July–December 2020, the company's operating profit increased to €17.3 million, compared to the previous year's 5.8 million Euro, which it attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

  1. ^ Rapala Group (3 May 2000). "How Do You Pronounce Rapala? The Debate on How to Pronounce the World's Most Popular Fishing Lure Continues" (Press release). PRNewswire. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. ^ "History - Rapala". www.rapala.eu. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Rodrigues, Jordan (5 June 2019). "Legendary lure comes from Finland, with love. And it's an essential for Idaho anglers". Idaho Statesman.
  4. ^ a b "Rapala sticks to familiar, successful formula of its founder". Star Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ "The 25 Best Topwater Lures Ever Created". Field & Stream. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Battery fires prompt Twin Cities-based Rapala to recall 128K fishing knives". Star Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Kalastusvälineitä valmistava Rapala ostaa Okuma-tuotemerkin". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Rapala CEO: This is why we added Okuma to our group... and what we plan next". Angling International. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Wheeler to Use 13 Fishing Along with Rapala Baits". wired2fish.com. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Bass Pro Tour Stage Three Championship Round MLF NOW! Live Stream (Part 2) – Mar. 18, 2020". Major League Fishing. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Defoe Wins 2020 MLF BPT in Texas with Rapala DT-10, Tokyo Rig and More". wired2fish.com. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  12. ^ B.A.S.S. "New Notches Victory In Bassmaster Elite Series Debut At St. Johns River". WFMZ.com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  13. ^ Harma, Olli. "Rapala VMC:ltä selvä tulosparannus kasvaneella liikevaihdolla - osinkoa ei kuitenkaan ole luvassa". Tärkeimmät talousuutiset | Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 21 February 2021.