L.L. Bean eyes cuts of up to 300 jobs

PORTLAND – Despite strong December sales, L.L. Bean plans to announce major job cuts Tuesday, WCSH-TV reported.

The Freeport-based outfitter notified state labor officials that 150 to 200 jobs could be lost, the station reported Monday, and Gov. John Baldacci’s office understands that the figure could be as high as 300.

The privately held company, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, announced in October that weak sales had prompted it to cut its 4,300-member work force through voluntary retirements.

L.L. Bean said last month it enjoyed double-digit growth in catalog and online sales in December, but that apparently was not enough to offset the weak economy.

The company laid off 175 people in January 2002 as part of a corporate reorganization. It was the biggest job reduction at L.L. Bean since 1995, when about 350 positions were eliminated.