American redemption machine specialist Benchmark Games announced at the IAAPA trade show in Orlando a formal agreement with London’s United Distributing Company, which will see UDC representing Benchmark in the Middle East market.

UDC UDC

The US company views the Middle East as one of its primary sales territories and its recognition of UDC comes after a lengthy and very successful partnership. For Benchmark, Gene Lipkin said that the company had benefitted from its relationship with UDC in the European market; it was therefore a natural extension for the company to take that into the Middle East too.

“UDC is one of the principal suppliers in the Middle East region and already sells our equipment there. This announcement is therefore simply a formal recognition of their status with us.”

Mark Horwood said: "We at UDC are delighted in having cemented this deal with our very good friends at Benchmark who are recognised as the leading manufacturer of redemption games. We look forward to exciting times ahead and increased sales throughout the MENA region.

“We are very well known and respected in the area and have travelled extensively in the area for a number of years. Having worked on the feedback from our customers as to what equipment they want in their centres, it is nice to have been recognised for all the hard work we have done to help them source money making equipment.”

Picture - The announcement of a new Benchmark-UDC relationship coincided with the arrival on the Benchmark stand of a delegation from Al Hokair, the largest operator of games in the Middle East. The line-up of senior Benchmark, UDC and Al Hokair personnel includes: Benchmark’s Frank Ballouz (left), UDC’s Michael Green and Mark Horwood, Majed Al Hokair, the CEO of the Saudi company’s amusements division, Mohammad Salim, Gene Lipkin of Benchmark, and Al Hokair’s Jean Habre.