Winnebago officially says headquarters are in Eden Prairie

In a news release, the company stated it will remain "strongly rooted" in northern Iowa and added there is no planned job loss as a result of the transition.

August 19, 2021 at 4:01PM
RV and boat maker Winnebago has 6,500 employees, with approximately 100 based out of its Eden Prairie office. (Winnebago Industries/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

After five years of housing its top executives in Eden Prairie, Winnebago Industries formally announced this week it's changing its headquarters address from Forest City, Iowa, to the southwest Twin Cities suburb.

The RV and boat manufacturer said it will remain "strongly rooted" in north Iowa and added there is no planned job loss as a result of the transition, nor will there be "any physical implications on any manufacturing assets."

"Our Twin Cities location has been and will continue to be an effective resource for executing our vision as a premier outdoor recreation enterprise, as it supports the growth of all of our strong brands," Michael Happe, president and chief executive at Winnebago, said in a statement.

Winnebago opened an office in Eden Prairie in 2016, the same year it named Happe its chief executive. Happe was previously a top executive at Bloomington-based Toro Co.

Winnebago now has about 100 people working in Eden Prairie in corporate functions. In Iowa, the company has operations in Forest City, Lake Mills, Charles City and Waverly.

"We are genuinely proud of our historical roots in Forest City and the incredible contributions of all our past and current Iowa employees to the company's success through the years," Happe said.

Winnebago president and chief executive Michael Happe (Carlos Gonzalez | Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

About 2,100 of its 6,500 total employees work in Iowa, where Winnebago said it will increase its worker headcount in the next 12 months to meet demand for its motorhome and special vehicle products.

The company also has facilities in Indiana and Florida.

Winnebago reported revenue of $2.4 billion for its most recent fiscal year, up 18.6% from the previous year. Last month, Winnebago announced it was spending more than $255 million to acquire Barletta Pontoon Boats, a Bristol, Ind.-based maker of premium pontoon boats, to boost its product portfolio.

about the writer

about the writer

Nick Williams

Prep Sports Team Leader

Nick Williams is the High School Sports Team Leader at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He joined the Star Tribune as a business reporter in 2021. Prior to his eight years as a business reporter in Minnesota and Wisconsin, he was a sportswriter for 12 years in Florida and New York.

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