Komperdell, the Austrian maker of poles and other sporting goods, has picked Hooway (Beijing Snowpeak Hooway Trade Co. Ltd.), run by Frank Gao, as its new distributor for the Chinese market. Gunter Stattmann, Komperdell's export manager, said at Ispo Shanghai that the new agreement was non-exclusive for now. Over the past two years, the Austrian group has been working with Beijing-based Elan Snowsports, the distributor of the Slovenian ski brand by the same name. Komperdell's new alliance with Hooway focuses on products such as hiking poles, but Hooway may also distribute Camaro, Komperdell's sister brand of beachwear and diving products. Hooway has a large portfolio of brands including Buff, Alpina, Aquapac, Reusch and other brands of accessories. The company also sells Masters, the Italian maker of poles, in China. Komperdell has no problem with that since Masters mostly offers poles in a lower price range.

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