First Brands (Fram) bankruptcy

Hootbro said:
That sucks to hear. I was just on Rock Auto today and noticed some of the Champ SKU's going out of stock that I had never seen out of stock before. This puts even more pressure on FRAM as they have relied the last couple of years on Champion Laboratories to fill many of their SKU's.
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You may be right, Champion became over reliant on supplying Fram with filters, could it stand on it's own? How would this work when Fram is in financial trouble too, this most likely killed any sale, I think Last Brands pulled the money from Champion to keep Fram from closing it's doors.
 
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Well, I think this will finally push Amsoil into finding a new filter supplier. Love the oil, but I have 2 EA15K13 Champion made filters sitting on my shelf that I'm not willing to risk using. When Mobil 1 filters were made by Champion I used them for years on my Hondas. Interestingly, im now using the new (Warren?)Mobil 1 M110a made in Vietnam as it seems to be a quality filter, really hoping to see a decent dependable brand quality filter made here that is at least the equivalent of what Champion made for Amsoil. We need a manufacture who produces a quality filter that checks ALL the boxes and is marked "Proudly Made In The USA"
 
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jimmyjamesndt said:
You may be right, Champion became over reliant on supplying Fram with filters, could it stand on it's own? How would this work when Fram is in financial trouble too, this most likely killed any sale, I think Last Brands pulled the money from Champion to keep Fram from closing it's doors.
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Champion changed ownership a few times before First Brands bought them. They always seem to be on the cusp of going out of business on their own prior as the vast majority of what they did were private label jobber and contract runs for other filter makers. Their margins were always low.

Main difference though is that Champion was non unionized compared to FRAM operations in the USA primarily being unionized. Champion was always cheaper to run and make filters and I would argue FRAM needed Champion more than Champion needed FRAM.

Be interesting to see how this plays out for FRAM. I think as a label brand, they are going to have to lean into more off shoring.
 
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Hootbro said:
Champion changed ownership a few times before First Brands bought them. They always seem to be on the cusp of going out of business on their own prior as the vast majority of what they did were private label jobber and contract runs for other filter makers. Their margins were always low.

Main difference though is that Champion was non unionized compared to FRAM operations in the USA primarily being unionized. Champion was always cheaper to run and make filters and I would argue FRAM needed Champion more than Champion needed FRAM.

Be interesting to see how this plays out for FRAM. I think as a label brand, they are going to have to lean into more off shoring.
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Fram also had a Canadian plant that did a lot of work too; I used to hear stories about how unmodern the plant was during the "Orange Can of Death" era under Honeywell. I think after it was the Rank Group (maybe?) bought them, they toured the plant and goes "Uh....why is still operating?"
 
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