Eddie Bauer becomes an independent brand again

Eddie Bauer Inc., the 38th largest online retailer in the U.S., according to the Internet Retailer Top 400 Guide to Retail Web Sites, has re-emerged as a private company following Spiegel Inc.’s Chapter 11 reorganization. Its new parent is known as Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc.

Spiegel, which filed for bankruptcy on March 17, 2003, acquired Eddie Bauer in 1988 from General Mills. Eddie Bauer and his son sold the business to their business partners in 1968. They in turn sold the business to General Mills in 1971, which eventually sold it to Spiegel.

"We are extremely excited about our new status as a stand-alone company. The entire Eddie Bauer team worked hard during the Spiegel bankruptcy to build a strong platform for the future," said president and CEO Fabian Mansson. "We streamlined operations, recruited new talent to strengthen the team, and renewed our commitment to providing quality apparel and accessories that reflect a modern outdoor lifestyle."

In addition to the web site, the company operates a catalog business, owns more than 400 stores in the U.S. and Canada, and has joint venture partnerships in Japan and Germany.