Kobo partners with Turkey's D&R bookshop chain

Rakuten Kobo has partnered with D&R, Turkey’s largest book and media retailer, to sell e-books and devices to Turkish readers.

Turkish customers can now access Kobo e-books through D&R's website and in their 147 stores. Customers will also have access to Kobo through e-commerce platform www.idefix.com, a subsidiary of D&R, from May.

D&R offers a localised e-bookstore offering 15,000 Turkish language e-books, within a global catalogue of 4.7m e-books. Readers can explore a selection of bestsellers, curated recommendations, best-of-the-month, and seasonal suggestions. D&R will also sell Kobo e-readers.

Kürşat Demircioğlu, c.e.o. of D&R, said: "Kobo's commitment towards its readers has created a distinguished reading experience among its users. This is also important for D&R, which is the largest bookstore chain in Turkey. Kobo is committed to the written word and keenly understands that technology must exist to facilitate the escape into stories and ideas, it should never impede that journey.

He added: "This sound relationship will allow us to offer the widest selection of books and reach more readers in more places. At D&R, we undertake the mission of endearing books and increasing the book-reading rate in our society. We are profoundly excited and proud to become a part of this evolution of the publishing sector, in promoting our mission."

Michael Tamblyn, c.e.o. of Rakuten Kobo, said: “As digital reading continues to grow around the world we are pleased to be able to build on the momentum we have established in other countries, partnering with the retailer booklovers know and trust the most. We very much look forward to spreading the love of reading with D&R.”