OUTDOOR clothing and equipment company Berghaus has signed an agreement that will see its products distributed throughout Korea.

The Sunderland company has agreed the deal with E-Land Ltd, one of Korea's top four retailers, which operates through a network of more than 4,000 stores.

Under the new arrangement, E-Land will have the exclusive right to license the Berghaus brand and distribute its products throughout the country.

The licence is for five years - with the potential for a further five-year extension - and will take effect from January 1.

Richard Cotter, Berghaus brand president, said: "I have regularly made it clear that Berghaus has an ambition to be one of the top five global outdoor brands.

"That is not idle talk and I believe that recent developments are further signs that we are confidently putting in place the building blocks to achieve these bold objectives.

"E-Land is a huge corporation and an organisation of enormous significance in Korea. The company has an enviable track record of delivering success in the market for its partners and this agreement will help promote Berghaus to the premier league of outdoor brands."