Smiths News PLC Extension of News UK Contract to London Areas (2795Q)
October 17 2023 - 1:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMSNWS
RNS Number : 2795Q
Smiths News PLC
17 October 2023
Smiths News PLC
("Smiths News")
Extension of News UK Contract to London Areas
Following the announcement on 12 April 2023 (see RNS Number
8770V) of Smiths News having secured a new five year contract
through to 2029 with News UK & Ireland Limited (publisher of
The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times), Smiths News is pleased to
announce that it has now additionally been awarded the exclusive
distribution of News UK's titles across our existing London
distribution areas which News UK currently serves itself under its
'direct to retail' operations (a historic operation unique to News
UK and which now sees News UK (like all other publishers)
exclusively appoint wholesalers across all the UK for the first
time).
The new business secured within our existing London distribution
areas accounts for c.GBP27m in current sales value per annum across
c.2,500 London retailers who are already served by Smiths News with
other publishers' titles. Smiths News expects to commence
distribution to these retailers with effect from 13 November
2023.
As a result of this extended award, Smiths News is now
contracted to distribute News UK titles across all of our current
distribution territories through to 2029.
This award will also provide a material economic and operational
benefit for the London retailers we currently serve, reducing their
overall costs of distribution and removing significant complexity
from having two suppliers of newspapers within London.
Jon Bunting, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"I am delighted to have reached this extended agreement with
News UK. It marks a milestone in our relationship to be
distributing News UK titles across our whole network. It is also
excellent news for London retailers, reducing costs, removing
complexity and making the category much easier to manage on a
day-to-day basis. It clearly demonstrates the desire of publishers
and wholesalers to promote the long-term sustainability of the
newspaper supply chain."
ENDS
Enquiries:
Smiths News PLC Via Buchanan
Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive
Officer
Paul Baker, Chief Financial Officer
www.smithsnews.co.uk
Buchanan
Richard Oldworth / Jamie Hooper
/ Toto Berger
smithsnews @buchanan.uk.com
www.buchanan.uk.com 020 7466 5000
News UK
Libby Darcy, External Comms Manager,
News UK
libby.darcy@news.co.uk +447442328933
About Smiths News PLC
Smiths News PLC and its core business, Smiths News, is the UK's
largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler, with approximately 55
per cent. market share. It distributes newspapers and magazines on
behalf of the major national and regional publishers, delivering to
approximately 23,000 retail outlets across England and Wales. The
speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is
critical to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains.
Ancillary businesses include: Smiths News Recycle, which
collects plastic and cardboard waste from Smiths News' customers
for recycling; Dawson Media Direct (DMD) which supplies airlines
and travel points with news and media; and Instore, which offers
field marketing services to retailers and suppliers across the
UK.
Person responsible for arranging release of this
announcement:
Stuart Marriner, General Counsel & Company Secretary
Smiths News plc
Rowan House
Cherry Orchard North
Kembrey Park
Swindon
SN2 8UH
email: cosec@smithsnews.co.uk
About Newsprinters
Newsprinters encompasses our three strategically located print
centres at Knowsley, Eurocentral and Broxbourne. These centres
provide print and distribution services for clients across the
industry.
Newsprinters triple width presses each produce over 80,000
copies per hour feeding into our time-sensitive nationwide
logistics network. Operating 364 days a year, our print,
distribution and direct to retail/consumer services have the
firepower to deliver for the industry. Whether you are looking to
distribute your title nationally, through the mail or locally,
Newsprinters have a range of bespoke services to help you get to
market as efficiently as possible. Find out more here:
https://newsprinters.co.uk/
About News UK
One of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland, our
newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on
Sunday and The TLS. Our national broadcast brands include
talkSPORT, Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK, and we have
market-leading local radio stations across Ireland. In April 2022
we launched TalkTV, a major new TV channel available to everyone
across the UK, delivering a schedule of news, current affairs,
entertainment and sport, with Piers Morgan in a primetime evening
show. Our world-famous brands provide news, analysis, opinion and
entertainment to almost 40 million people each month. Spanning
digital and print, audio and video, events and experiences, our
brands are home to a plurality of opinion, representing the diverse
communities we serve. News UK is wholly owned by News Corp. News
Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV)
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END
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