Marine Power Europe, a unit of Brunswick Corporation which handles all marketing, sales and distribution for Mercury Marine products in more than 100 countries, has awarded its UK and Ireland distributor E P Barrus the accolade of European distributor of the year.

Barrus has been in business for 88 years and is one of Marine Power Europe's longest-serving business partners, looking after sales and after-market support for the Mercury, Mariner and MerCruiser engine brands and Quicksilver inflatable boats. Outboard engine sales recorded by Barrus during the last year increased by 12 per cent and inflatable boat sales by 17 per cent.

Another long-term partner, Al Boom in Kuwait, was named distributor of the year for the Middle East and Africa region. Al Boom's turnover with Marine Power Europe surged by 163 per cent and the company now has 40 per cent market share in its operating territory. In addition to recreational boating business, Al Boom supplies organisations such as the Kuwait navy, coast guard, fisheries ministry and fire brigade.

Marine Power Europe has chosen its Norwegian sales office as the outstanding achiever for 2005 in the company-owned sales and distribution category. In addition to a 45 per cent growth in net sales, the office helped establish 'Brunswick Oslo Marine', an extensive retail outlet exclusively for Brunswick products. It also launched what it calls the 'Wave' programme, a new shopping concept for Norwegian boaters.

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