Here's the skinny on what is going on with Luhr Jensen as told to me by the president of Normark (in an interview I did):

Luhr Jensen is now part of Rapala VMC. However, the smoker and food products line was retained by Phil Jensen.

Currently, almost everything will be status quo ante for the next year or so as Rapala figures out the best way to incorporate LJ into the company. However, much of the manufacturing will likely move to China (to Rapala's factory), and some will move to Finland. Some will be kept in Hood River, where Rapala will maintain a research/development facility. They plan no changes in the way the company does business. The president did say that they "didn't want another Storm"--referring to Rapala's acquisition of that company and the subsequent changes.

While some folks have lost their jobs and more will as well, not all jobs will disappear. I think something like 45 jobs will remain with the smoker division, but that figure is kind of hazy at the moment. I didn't hear, and doubt that anyone knows yet, how many jobs will remain in Hood River.

Keith