Rockford Fosgate’s car audio products will leave Best Buy after a 10-year run. The relationship will “wind down” in May 2010, parent Rockford Corp. said.
“Today, the car audio marketplace is more mature and Rockford’s strategy does not align with Best Buy,” said Rockford president Bill Jackson. With the decision, the company will “focus on growing our brands in specialty channels and regional A/V retailers,” he continued. “We will continue to invest in technology, developing high-end OEM solutions and expanding our reach with new product categories.”
Rockford began selling its Rockford Fosgate brand through Best Buy in 2000 to build brand awareness and increase consumer awareness of the car audio category, he noted.
While it refocuses on specialty channels and regional A/V dealers, Rockford Fosgate is launching more than 40 new products, including new technologies in car audio amplifiers and its first entries in two new product categories: in-ear monitors and pro audio speakers.
In 2005, the company returned to its focus on automotive electronics with the sale of home and pro audio company NHT and the sale of the home and pro audio inventories of its Hafler and Fosgate Audionics brands, although Rockford was to retain the two brand names. Rockford also sold off North American rights to the MB Quart brand and sold off the assets of its German-based MB Quart operation, which markets home, car and pro audio.
