Here’s the likely scenario.
CP saw it coming, indicated in no new contract, or dwindling stock availability, or increased lead times, requests to clear accts owing, whatever, he saw it. He likely decided to get out front, liquidate his stock quickly and leave Fox with a service gap and a saturated market that hurts whoever takes over while he moves on to new things. Good on him.
Fox will continue to offshore production, quality will tank, prices won’t change, and they’ll kill the brand eventually if decisions are made by accountants.
To compete against other brands Fox need to go direct in as many territories as possible. The Uk is an anomaly in terms of international trade and distribution channels. Often referred to as Treasure Island in the various sporting goods markets we suffer high prices and get gouged at every turn. Maybe they’ll go with another distro, maybe they’ll go direct. Either way they’ll suffer in the UK in the aftermarket.
But then they don’t give a frig, OEM is where the money is. Aftermarket probably isn’t 20% of their global sales.
Good luck to CP with what he does next, here’s hoping he has a viable solution for the business and the workers who made in an exceptional example of quality British service.