Hodgdon doesn't control the distribution of the powders. They control their brands. There is no barrier to getting into the powder business other than market forces outside Hodgdon's business. A year ago, you could have called up General Dynamics or BEA/NRE or one of the foreign plants and for the right amount of money gotten a contract for them to supply powder for your new brand. Get yourself a hazmat shipping certification from the DOT and build a packing plant where you receive the powder and pack it into bottles for UPS trucks to ship out. Open up your online storefront for powderpuff.com and start selling to reloaders in the 48.
Anyone that dared to do that would probably find out that selling new powders is hard because reloaders are brand-loyal, curmudgeonly, and that you don't really have anything to motivate them to work up new loads for your powders that do the same thing as the ones they've always bought. You'd also find the margins are poor. So if you did manage to gain a following through extensive marketing and advertising effort, your business would still be threadbare. Then if Vista Outdoors or Hodgdon came along with a good offer, you'd probably jump at it to get out.
Sounds like some new company I've seen advertised? Shooter's World or some such.
I've been thinking about trying some of theirs, haven't seen any locally though.
Valsdad,
Shooters World is the retail version of powders offered by Explosia, who makes Lovex powders.
Many are identical to Accurate Arms powders. As an example Shooters World Auto Pistol is identical to AA #5.
This "New Company's" been making powder for 100 years. I discovered them when all this recent craziness hit, and so far, I've been very happy with the results, especially at $10 per pound less then Hodgdon's powders.
Many of their "tactical" ball powders are flash suppressed, so you get a nice flowing powder without the fireball.
Right now, they are the best value out there, and I suggest considering them for any new load development.
As much as I appreciate all Hodgdon's done for the shooting industry, when reasonable, I plan to support the underdog so we can all benefit from a more competitive environment. If more people had supported Western Powers while they were independent maybe they could of found a buyer other than Hodgdons.
