Fruugo appoints Hancox as Chairman

Fruugo.com, the fast-growing global marketplace platform has announced that Mike Hancox, previously CEO of Ideal Shopping and former CEO of Shop Direct and former CEO of Otto UK (part of the world’s largest home shopping group), has been appointed as Chairman of Fruugo.com Limited. Soaring revenues and four consecutive years of triple digit revenue growth have led the board of Fruugo to consider the next major steps in Fruugo’s global expansion. Read full story

i-Life signs Prime Distribution in Qatar

US-based i-Life Digital Technology has signed Prime Distribution Trading Company – a subsidiary of Ali Bin Ali Holding – as its distribution partner in Qatar. i-Life is a fast-growing PC and device company in the region with presence across 45 countries spanning the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, CIS, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Read full story

ALSO signs partnership with Treolan

Distribution giant ALSO has struck a partnership with Russian distributor Treolan focused on its Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offering. The deal will enable Treolan, which is part of LANIT Group, to offer its customers a wide range of services in Russia. LANIT Group sales hit US$2.4 billion in 2017. With this new partnership, the sixth that ALSO has signed since 2015, Treolan’s channel partners will be able to manage the seats of their end-customers and develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity typically involved in maintaining an adequate infrastructure. Read full story

Exertis adds Cocoon distribution rights

Exertis has struck a distribution agreement with Cocoon for its multi-room, smart home security system that incorporates artificial intelligence and sound detection. Rod Slater, Exertis head of smart tech and IoT, said: “Consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits of a home security system and that’s good business for retailers. Cocoon’s AI feature offers better protection by learning to detect unusual activity and its unique multi-room Subsound technology senses unexpected movement throughout the rooms in your home.” Read full story

New Global Buyer Programme announced for DISTREE EMEA 2019 channel event

DISTREE Events has launched a new Global Buyer Programme (GBP) for its flagship hosted buyer tech and consumer electronics (CE) channel event. For the first time, a selection of VIP distributors, retailers and e-tailers from Asia and the Americas will be invited to next year’s DISTREE Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), which takes place in Monaco from February 19-22nd 2019. Read full feature

INTERVIEW: Olivier Chevance, Badgy

With 280-plus top retailer, e-tailer and reseller executives confirmed to attend next week’s DISTREE Russia, the hosted buyer tech channel event offers a powerful business platform for tech brands at every stage of channel development. The team from plastic card printer Badgy will be in Moscow next week to hold pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with partners from across Russia. Channel EMEA caught up with Olivier Chevance, EMEA sales manager for the Badgy range at Evolis, to find out more about the company’s plans for the Russian market. Read full feature