Kona: change of ownership

[al-onestare]

Not sure where to post this so I'll plump it here, after 34 years Kona is under new ownership. Quite a shock by all accounts but I guess not a huge surprise given the heat in the industry.

https://cog.konaworld.com/kona-joins-kent-outdoors-formerly-kent-watersports/
Does anyone have any experience of Kent or their brands?

 

[hamster]

At least not a big bike brand, so likely to be kept much more as-is I think.

 

[jonnyboy666]

as a kona dealer (and so busy at the shop today i hadn't seen any of this) i just messaged the rep, he only found out by skype call this morning!

he said the growth of the last 18 months means that the influx of funds will enable Kona to grow.

we'll see what happens.

 

[Taiphun]

Lots of interesting comments on Pinkbike.

 

[al-onestare]

Lots of interesting comments on Pinkbike.

Don't you mean amazing puns?

 

[Taiphun]

Don't you mean amazing puns?

Yes!

 

[madjh]

Explosif news. Allways they try to sell this joint ventures as the best of the best, but this happens because Kona is in troubles and need money to invest in the crazy mtb world. This smells like a humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa.

 

[Baulz]

Explosif news. Allways they try to sell this joint ventures as the best of the best, but this happens because Kona is in troubles and need money to invest in the crazy mtb world. This smells like a humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa.

The owners have been at this for over 30 years, they could just be planning for retirement.

 

[coomber]

They've owned it 30 years. Probably now is as good as any time to sell. Fair play to them. Can't see much changing for end user

 

[d8mok]

In 25 years time is there going to be people on the internet arguing about pre 2022 Konas vs post 2022 Konas