For the first time in company history, Winnebago has gone over the one-billion-dollar mark in annual revenues. The Forest City-based recreational vehicle manufacturer today announced records for both fourth quarter and fiscal year earnings. Winnebago C-E-O Bruce Hertzke says Winnebago hitting the one-billion mark is quite an accomplishment. Hertzke says Winnebago in 1997 only had 400-million dollars in annual revenue and is pleased to see that hit the billion mark in seven years time. Hertzke says several things have contributed to raising that annual revenue level. He says they’ve been agressive in product development and some of those new products. He cites diesels as an example, saying they’re up 82-percent from last year. Hertzke also gives a lot of credit to growth in fiscal 2004 to the expansion of their Charles City production facility. He says the expansion allowed them to supply all the product they needed, and also added to the future potential for growth. Hertzke says the short-term and overall future of the R-V industry looks good.He says the popularity of R-V’s with younger people and people living longer are good. He says there will be some ups and downs, and says they can expect the same growth they had this year every year. Revenues for fiscal 2004 were a record 1-point-1-billion, a 32-percent increase compared to just over 845-million in fiscal 2003. Revenues for the fourth quarter 2004 were a record 283-million, a 25-percent increase over last year. Net income for the fourth quarter ending in August was a record 19-million, a 58-percent increase compared to 2003.
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