Printing revamp at UK newspaper group

UK regional newspapers group Northcliffe said today it planned to close four printing presses as it geared up for a further programme of investment.

The company – owned by Daily Mail & General Trust – warned of the possible closure of presses at Exeter, Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln, although it will also open a state-of-the-art facility in North Lincolnshire by late 2007.

The new site at Elsham Wold forms the bulk of around £100m (€150m) set aside for investment over the next three years, following £150m (€225m) worth of spending on plant and IT equipment in the last five years.

The closure of the older press sites, which employ around 200 people, is part of a wider two-year programme of organisational and structural improvements aimed at cost savings of at least £20m (€30m) a year.

Northcliffe is one of the largest regional newspaper publishers in the UK, operating from 37 publishing centres.

Its 20 daily titles have a combined sale of almost one million copies, whilst its 27 paid-for weeklies sell almost half a million a week. A further 62 free titles distribute 2.5 million copies a week.

Northcliffe managing director Michael Pelosi said: “Over the last five years we have invested substantially in new presses and improved technology as part of our continued commitment to producing high quality regional newspapers with strong editorial content.

“We have consistently followed a strategy of publishing market leading local newspapers and websites which cater for the needs of our readers and advertisers.

“These organisational and structural changes announced today will help us to continue this successful strategy in the highly competitive and rapidly changing local newspaper market.”