IOC fellow, Jon Bunting is proud to announce that Smiths News has been appointed as News UK's exclusive national wholesale distribution partner from July 2027.
The new 10-year agreement extends our long-standing partnership and marks a significant milestone for the future of print distribution. Together, we'll create a more efficient, sustainable supply chain that supports retailers, consumers and the wider industry for years to come.
Smiths News is pleased to announce that it has successfully secured a transformational long-term contract with News UK the publisher of ‘The Sun’, ‘The Times’ and ‘The Sunday Times’.
The new contract will see Smiths News appointed as News UK’s exclusive national wholesale distribution partner from July 2027. The new ten year contract is designed to simplify the wholesale process, remove structural costs from the supply chain and create a more efficient model to support retailers and consumers over the long term.
Smiths News will be working with NewsUK on a detailed implementation plan to ensure a smooth transition ahead of July 2027.
Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer of Smiths News plc, commented:
“We are delighted to announce the extension and expansion of our partnership with News UK through to 2037.
This deepens a relationship spanning more than 50 years, securing a reliable and sustainable national route to market for retailers and consumers - and enabling us to freeze delivery service charges for our retail customers for the life of the Contract.
Smiths News has a long and distinguished record in print distribution and industry-leading service. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in securing a sustainable future for print news distribution, and reflects our shared commitment to supporting the industry for years to come.”
Tracey Hart, Director of Retail and Wholesale, News UK commented:
“This decision is about building a wholesale model that is better suited to the future needs of our business. By simplifying how we operate and reducing duplication within the network, we can create a stronger and more resilient supply chain that benefits retailers and supports long-term access to print products.”
