Connect with us

Technology

BANFI VINTNERS ANNOUNCES BROTHER’S BOND BOURBON AS AN AGENCY BRAND

Published

on

This partnership marks the family-owned company’s first foray into the whiskey category

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Banfi Vintners, a leading Italian wine producer and importer of its family-owned fine wines, and Brother’s Bond Bourbon, a trailblazer in premium American whiskey, are proud to announce their strategic sales partnership. Through this collaboration, Banfi will serve as Brother’s Bond’s sales agency in the U.S., leveraging its extensive network and expertise.

“We are excited to welcome Brother’s Bond to our portfolio,” says Cristina Mariani-May, third-generation family proprietor and CEO of Banfi. “Their passion for sustainability, quality and vision aligns with our core values, and we are thrilled to showcase their exceptional quality nationwide. At Banfi, we remain committed to offering distinctive brands with unique stories to tell, and the stars have aligned with Brother’s Bond Bourbon.”

Co-founded by longtime friends, actors, and whiskey experts Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, Brother’s Bond Bourbon has quickly established itself as a leader in the whiskey world with 29 industry awards and 90+ ratings. Its portfolio of small-batch, ultra-premium bourbon, and rye whiskeys includes the acclaimed Bottled in Bond, ranked among the Top 5 Bourbons globally. Brother’s Bond goes beyond exceptional taste by giving back a portion of proceeds to regenerative agriculture with every bottle purchase, supporting farmers transitioning to regenerative practices, and contributing to the restoration of over 34 million acres of healthy soil across the U.S. In 2024, Brother’s Bond introduced its first Regenerative Grain bourbon, furthering its commitment to sustainability.

“We chose Banfi Vintners as our exclusive U.S. sales partner because they are a prestigious and highly respected family wine company, known for their dedication to quality and tradition. Banfi’s impressive sales expertise, strong on-premise stature, and deep industry relationships match our strategic vision for growth,” said Vincent Hanna, co-founder and CEO of Brother’s Bond Distilling Company. “Their values perfectly align with those of Brother’s Bond Bourbon, sharing our principles of excellence and passion for the craft. This collaboration allows us to focus on what we do best: creating exceptional bourbon while reaching more consumers who share our passion for sustainability and quality.”

The news comes less than a year after the appointment of Jenn Engel as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer. Engel joined Banfi with a bold vision to grow the business through strategic portfolio diversification, and this collaboration exemplifies that ambition. Together, the two companies aim to elevate Brother’s Bond’s presence in the U.S. marketplace, uniting their shared values of excellence, sustainability, and innovation.

This partnership marks Banfi’s first portfolio extension in over a decade, reflecting CEO Mariani-May’s stewardship of her company and her strategic approach to growth. “A lot goes into selecting a brand that fits in a family of brands as focused as ours,” explains Mariani-May. “The timing is right for us to welcome Brother’s Bond and Banfi’s future is incredibly bright.”

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Banfi: banfi@klgpr.com
Brother’s Bond: Laura Mulhern, lmulhern@goforthbesocial.com

About Banfi

Founded 1919 in New York City, Banfi continues to be solely owned by the Mariani family with Cristina Mariani-May as proprietor and CEO. The portfolio’s jewel is the award-winning Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany. The prestigious wine portfolio, along with the Castello Banfi Il Borgo luxury hotel, Michelin-starred dining, and extensive hospitality offers the ultimate authentic Tuscan experience. The Mariani family is also owner of US Pacific Northwest based Pacific Rim & Company with projects from premiere AVAs across Washington state and the acclaimed Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Banfi portfolio also includes ownership interest in leading organic brand Natura wines, produced by Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Chile. For more information, visit https://banfiwinesusa.com/.

About Brother’s Bond

Brother’s Bond Bourbon, founded by famous on-screen brothers, whiskey makers, and real-life friends Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, is an ultra-premium bourbon brand celebrated for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Meticulously crafted with the finest all-natural ingredients and aged to perfection, Brother’s Bond honors the rich heritage of American whiskey-making. The hand-selected, award-winning small-batch whiskey portfolio includes Straight Bourbon, Original Cask Strength Straight Bourbon, American Blended Rye, Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon, and Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon, which has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Bourbons in the world. Beyond exceptional taste, Brother’s Bond is committed to sustainability, giving back a portion of proceeds to regenerative agriculture and responsible sourcing with every bottle sold. Brother’s Bond is redefining what it means to enjoy an ultra-premium whiskey – one sip, one story, one bond at a time. Time to Bond. For more information, visit www.brothersbondbourbon.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @brothersbondbourbon and X @brothersbond

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/banfi-vintners-announces-brothers-bond-bourbon-as-an-agency-brand-302361149.html

SOURCE Banfi Vintners

Continue Reading

Technology

LianLian Global and PayPal Power Cross-Border Payouts for Social Commerce, Marketplace, and eCommerce Customers

Published

on

By

Social commerce, marketplaces and eCommerce players served by LianLian Global can now pay creators, influencers, developers, and independent contractors directly to their PayPal and Venmo wallets.

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LianLian Global  today announced it has partnered with PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) to enable its social commerce, marketplace and e-commerce clients to send payouts directly to PayPal accounts globally and to Venmo accounts in the U.S.

The creator and gig economy runs on fast, low-friction payouts. Brands are expected to spend $32.6 billion on creators in 2026 and roughly 50 million people worldwide create content professionally or semi-professionally (Gigapay Global Creator Economy Report 2026). Many of these recipients already hold a PayPal or Venmo account: PayPal had over 400 million active accounts across approximately 200 markets at the end of Q2 2026, and Venmo reached 67 million monthly active accounts in Q4 2025.

Paypal Payouts is live in 96 global markets and 24 currencies. It allows merchants to send to any email address, mobile number, or Venmo user handle, with or without an existing PayPal or Venmo account.

To support enterprises expanding globally, LianLian Global provides digital payment services including pay-in, pay-out, acquiring, foreign exchange, virtual cards and payment aggregation. To date, its parent company Lianlian DigiTech has served more than 13.3 million clients. Its services reach more than 200 countries and regions, support transactions and settlement in more than 140 currencies, and connect with more than 180 global e-commerce platforms.

The partnership combines LianLian Global’s cross-border collection, FX and compliance infrastructure with PayPal’s global wallet network. Key offerings include:

Pay to PayPal: Payouts from LianLian Global clients to PayPal account holders in 96 markets, using only the recipient’s email or phone numberPay to Venmo: Domestic U.S. payouts to Venmo users, including creators, influencers and independent contractorsPayPal Payouts for Platforms: Mass disbursements for social commerce, marketplaces and affiliate platforms paying large numbers of sellers, creators and contractorsSpeed to settle: Save time and money by eliminating check runs and postage; no need for routing numbers and bank accounts.

Sandra Lam, Deputy CEO of US at LianLian Global: “Social commerce is creating a new economy, where creators, influencers and independent sellers drive discovery and sales alongside the platforms they sell on. Paying these participants fast, across borders and in small amount is what powers the network effect of social commerce. We see our work with Paypal as a key step in building the payout rails for the global gig economy.”

The collaboration expands LianLian Global’s payout coverage and supports its growth in the U.S. and global markets as cross-border platforms scale their creator and contractor programs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lianlian-global-and-paypal-power-cross-border-payouts-for-social-commerce-marketplace-and-ecommerce-customers-302917635.html

SOURCE LianLian Global

Continue Reading

Technology

Crab2B Debuts as Hong Kong’s First Dedicated B2B Platform for Mobile Electronics

Published

on

By

HONG KONG, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With the global population surpassing 8 billion, mobile electronics have become essential to modern life, with smartphones now used by billions of people. Across approximately 13,861 cities worldwide, electronics wholesalers play a vital role in the supply chain. Among the world’s three major wholesale hubs for digital electronics, Dubai serves the Middle East and Africa, Miami connects markets across Latin America, and Hong Kong draws strength from its unique position linking mainland China with global markets. According to Hong Kong Customs data, re-exports of used mobile phones from Hong Kong reached 51.5 million units in 2025, while the total value of electronics exports hit HK$3.9216 trillion. Yet despite its value running into the trillions of Hong Kong dollars, it has long lacked a dedicated online platform.

Crab2B was created to fill this gap as Hong Kong’s first B2B platform dedicated to mobile electronics. Inspired by Alibaba’s online B2B marketplace model, the platform focuses on consumer electronics, bringing together hundreds of thousands of buyers and sellers worldwide and enabling them to connect directly.

Crab2B covers a broad range of products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and other smart devices. Listings span brand-new and used devices, as well as certified pre-owned (CPO) and as-is products. The platform also connects buyers and suppliers with service providers offering product inspection, international logistics and repair services. Users can search for products by brand and model, while all merchants undergo rigorous verification before joining the platform. With these safeguards in place, Crab2B is designed to meet the needs of businesses across the value chain, protect the interests of both buyers and sellers, and facilitate mutually beneficial transactions.

Building on Hong Kong’s established trading network, Crab2B made its debut at the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion during the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows, held at AsiaWorld-Expo from October 18 to 21, 2026, where it also launched the Crab2B app. Looking ahead, Crab2B will remain firmly rooted in Hong Kong while expanding its global reach, continuing to refine the platform to deliver a smarter, more comprehensive digital marketplace for mobile electronics. By helping international buyers identify suitable suppliers, simplifying cross-border sourcing and reducing transaction costs, Crab2B aims to support the continued growth of Hong Kong’s digital trade sector and contribute to the city’s long-term prosperity and stability.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/crab2b-debuts-as-hong-kongs-first-dedicated-b2b-platform-for-mobile-electronics-302917652.html

SOURCE CRAB 2B TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT CO., LIMITED

Continue Reading

Technology

AiMOGA Launches Global Robot Innovation: Mobo Debuts from Wuhu, Empowering Homes and Businesses

Published

on

By

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiMOGA Robotics has officially launched Mobo, its first consumer-grade humanoid family companion robot, marking a new chapter in intelligent living for Malaysian households and enterprises. Unveiled globally from AiMOGA’s headquarters in Wuhu, China, during a joint international users summit with its sister brands, this groundbreaking product reflects the company’s commitment to worldwide innovation and technological excellence.

Standing 0.9 meters tall with 22 degrees of freedom, Mobo supports over 20 languages—including Bahasa Malaysia—and delivers rich, personalized interactions. Designed for family life, it offers children interactive learning, storytelling, and object recognition, while providing elders with conversational companionship and customizable reminders. Powered by MoAgent, AiMOGA’s embodied intelligence system, Mobo features a dual-brain architecture enabling real-time responses, multi-tasking capabilities, and adaptive learning through facial recognition and secure MogaCloud integration.

Peng Xia, AiMOGA Robotics Executive Vice President, said Mobo’s spatial perception, interaction, execution, decision-making, and cognition layers form a perception-decision-execution-feedback loop. Spatial memory enables object retrieval, while social navigation recognizes pedestrian paths and interaction zones. Multimodal technologies coordinate language, facial expressions, and movement for natural interaction.

Beyond home use, Mobo shows strong potential in professional settings—from customer service to logistics—supporting AiMOGA’s vision of integrating robotics into everyday workflows.

Since its debut in August 2026, Mobo has attracted over 10,000 prospective users. Thirty-five were selected as Global User Experience Officers, receiving one year of complimentary use to help shape future improvements.

At the event, Guibin Zhang, AiMOGA Robotics General Manager, outlined strategies in R&D, cost optimization, sales and leasing. The “Platform Institute + Scenario Institute” model drives validation for bipedal, quadruped, and wheeled robots. Plans include 300 global experience centers and “Jia Tian Xia”, a robot leasing brand launching in Wuhu. Leveraging Chery’s manufacturing and platform resources enhances cost efficiency and scalability.

Notably, AiMOGA’s impact in Malaysia is amplified through strategic collaboration with sister brands Chery, OMODA & JAECOO, iCAUR, and LEPAS. Their partnership extends far beyond vehicle showrooms and daily operations—jointly developing integrated smart ecosystems that span mobility, retail, smart offices, and connected living.

As part of a global rollout with over 3,000 units deployed across 60+ markets, this initiative aims to bring intelligent, accessible robotics to more Malaysian families and businesses—enhancing productivity, convenience, and quality of life.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/aimoga-launches-global-robot-innovation-mobo-debuts-from-wuhu-empowering-homes-and-businesses-302917658.html

SOURCE AiMOGA Robotics

Continue Reading

Trending