LL Bean has record year, plans expansion

PORTLAND, Maine — L.L. Bean says it had a record year for profits and saw revenue growth of 3 percent.

CEO Chris McCormick told workers Friday that after four consecutive years of growth, the Maine-based retailer is ready to accelerate expansion plans. He says the privately held company plans its largest single-year capital investment and will spend an additional $100 million on website changes, retail expansion and business systems.

The company’s performance beat the industry average.

L.L. Bean’s board was happy enough with the revenue gain to authorize an 8 percent bonus for full-time workers. That’s the biggest bonus since 2005.

In a memo to Bean’s 5,100 full- and part-time workers, McCormick said the company has been conservative for the past few years and is now ready to “grab market share.”