RACINE, Wis., July 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a testament to innovation that excites the marketplace, Johnson Outdoors (Nasdaq:JOUT) has won top honors in three New Product Showcase categories as well as the coveted Best of Show at this year's ICAST sport fishing tradeshow.
Voted on by media representatives and buyers attending ICAST, the showcase awards honor new products that set the bar for innovation, design and potential in the fishing industry. The Johnson Outdoors winners:
Old Town® Predator™XL: a fishing watercraft from Old Town, the Predator XL Minn Kota Drive is powered by a Minn Kota motor console with electric trolling power and hands-free navigation; creating the ultimate in boat control to get on and stay on fish. Dual Winner, BEST OF SHOW and Best of Show, Boats.
Humminbird® ONIX™ 8 SI: a fully customizable fishfinding system that combines innovative Cross Touch™ operation with powerful built-in sonar and exclusive TriFuel Cartography. Anglers can use the intuitive touchscreen or traditional touchpad to zoom in on chart locations or fish-holding structures, mark and name waypoints, and swipe and drag screens to create custom views. Exclusive AutoChart®LIVE mapping program allows anglers to create real-time, sonar-generated fishing maps as they fish. Winner, Best of Show, Electronics.
Minn Kota® Ulterra™, a revolutionary bow-mount trolling motor with fully automated stow and deploy, as well as power trim, which raises and lowers the depth of the motor with the push of a button. These innovative functions, controlled wirelessly with either the i-Pilot® or i-Pilot Link™ remote control or foot pedal, make boat control easier than ever. Winner, Best of Show, Boating Accessories.
"Innovation is at the core of who we are – a strength we've cultivated for nearly half a century," says Helen Johnson-Leipold, Johnson Outdoors chairman and CEO. "We welcome the recognition that comes with the ICAST awards. And we're even more thrilled with the excitement these new products are generating among dealers and consumers."
Johnson-Leipold says innovation is a powerful growth driver for Johnson Outdoors. "Our customers and consumers consistently look to us for products that are better than what's out there, and we deliver against those expectations." According to Company reports, for the past ten years, new products have delivered a third or more of total Johnson outdoors revenue.
ABOUT JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation equipment company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Gear. Johnson Outdoors' familiar brands include, among others: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™ and Necky® kayaks; Carlisle® paddles; Extrasport® personal flotation devices; Minn Kota® motors; Cannon® downriggers; Humminbird® marine electronics; LakeMaster® electronic charts; SCUBAPRO® and SUBGEAR® dive equipment; Silva® compasses; Jetboil® outdoor cooking systems; and Eureka!® camping and hiking equipment.
Visit Johnson Outdoors at http://www.johnsonoutdoors.com