Big Rock Sports

Name

Big Rock Sports

Legal name

Big Rock Sports

Website

https://bigrocksports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Big Rock Sports was a Graham, NC-based wholesale distributor of fishing, hunting, and outdoor sporting goods serving retailers across the US and Canada. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2026 and has ceased operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Sporting Goods Distribution

NAICS

Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42391)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Camping, Hiking & Climbing Specialty Retail (CRAMABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Full-Line Sporting Goods Superstores (CRAMABAA)

Keywords

• Sporting goods distribution
• Fishing tackle wholesale
• Hunting supplies wholesale
• Outdoor recreation distribution
• Wholesale sporting goods

Headquarters

HQ city

Graham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Core offering

Big Rock Sports is a wholesale distributor of fishing, hunting, and outdoor sporting goods, supplying retailers with a broad assortment of outdoor recreation products. The company operated from Graham, North Carolina, with 501-1,000 employees, and also maintained a Canadian subsidiary (BRS Canada) that was liquidated on December 5, 2025. Big Rock Sports filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2026 with reported liabilities of $100.9 million and assets of $10-50 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outdoor Sporting Goods Distribution Wholesale distribution of fishing, hunting, and outdoor sporting goods to retailers across the United States and Canada.
• Dual Zone Vending Machine A vending machine product developed through a partnership between Big Rock Sports, The Wittern Group, and How's Ya Tackle, designed for dispensing fishing tackle and related outdoor goods.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Wittern GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Rock Sports partnered with The Wittern Group and Australian company How's Ya Tackle to develop the world's first Dual Zone vending machine capable of dispensing both live and frozen bait.

Scale indicators3 records

Direct peers

• Sports Inc. Independent U.S. wholesale distributor of outdoor and sporting goods to retailers. Most direct functional analog to Big Rock's wholesale distribution model serving independent outdoor retailers.

Broad incumbents

• Bass Pro Shops: Vertically integrated outdoor recreation retailer and manufacturer (parent of Cabela's). Competes in the same fishing, hunting and outdoor sporting goods categories and absorbs displaced Big Rock retailer accounts through its own distribution footprint.
• Cabela's: Specialty outdoor retailer under Bass Pro umbrella. Overlaps in hunting, fishing and outdoor equipment assortments that Big Rock distributed, with private label lines that compete at the brand level.
• Sportsman's Warehouse: National specialty retailer of outdoor sporting goods including hunting, fishing and camping. Comparable customer overlap in Big Rock's core product categories and a likely acquirer of any surviving wholesale business.
• Academy Sports + Outdoors: Large-format sporting goods and outdoor retailer carrying hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor recreation merchandise. Operates in overlapping categories and competes for the same end consumer that Big Rock's retail customers served.
• Dick's Sporting Goods: Largest U.S. sporting goods retailer with significant hunting, fishing and outdoor categories. Indirect competitor for Big Rock's downstream retailer shelf space and a major beneficiary of any wholesaler rationalization.
• Pure Fishing: Global manufacturer of fishing tackle, rods, reels and gear under brands like Berkley, Abu Garcia and Penn. A key vendor in Big Rock's assortment and a logical counterparty for any brand-driven acquisition of residual inventory.
• Shimano North America: Leading manufacturer of fishing tackle, cycling and rowing equipment. Major supplier category for Big Rock; comparable as a brand-driven incumbent whose distribution leverage would reshape the post-Big-Rock wholesale landscape.
• West Marine: Specialty retailer and wholesaler of marine and fishing supplies. Overlaps Big Rock's fishing category with both retail and pro-wholesale channels that compete for independent dealer accounts.
• Camping World Holdings: RV and outdoor lifestyle retailer with growing footprint in adjacent outdoor recreation categories. Comparable in outdoor consumer overlap and an example of a consolidator in the broader outdoor retail channel where Big Rock operated.

Market position

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bigrocksports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Rock Sports