Telegraph Media Group – National Contract Win

Smiths News PLC

15 October 2026

 

15 October 2026

This announcement contains inside information

Smiths News PLC

("Smiths News" or the "Company")

Telegraph Media Group - National Contract Win

Smiths News (LSE: SNWS), the UK's largest news wholesaler and a leading provider of early morning end-to-end supply chain solutions, is pleased to announce that it has successfully secured a new long-term exclusive contract with Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited ("TMG"), publisher of 'The Daily Telegraph', and 'The Sunday Telegraph'. 

The new agreement with TMG (the "Agreement") is another step in the transformational contracts secured in respect of exclusive national wholesale distribution which includes national newspaper publishers News UK and Associated Newspapers and the magazine distributors Frontline and Seymour. The Agreement is on enhanced commercial terms for Smiths News and includes (i) an expansion of the distribution territories in which the Company is appointed as TMG's exclusive wholesale distributor, securing national distribution of TMG's leading titles across all of Great Britain, to take effect from October 2027 and (ii) an extension in the contract term of our appointment through to September 2036.  It represents an incremental uplift in revenue from the expanded territories of c.£40m per annum from October 2027.

Together with the contracts announced in June and July 2026, Smiths News has now successfully secured c.61% of the national newspapers and magazines market at the point at which those contracts commence. 

As previously announced, key to the delivery of all five contracts secured to date will be the establishment of an expanded national footprint.  Guidance around the implementation costs, early-life transition costs, benefits of network expansion, as well as dividend and financing arrangements, remains unchanged from our announcement of 17 June 2026.  The Board expects to provide further guidance on the financial effects of all contracts in due course and, in any case, at the time of its preliminary financial results on 4 November 2026. 

Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer of Smiths News, commented:

"We are delighted to announce the extension and expansion of our long-term partnership with TMG through to 2036. This represents another key step in expanding our network footprint to cover the whole of Great Britain, ensuring that consumers are able to access and consume news and magazine content for many years to come. 

More importantly, this reinforces our position as a trusted partner across our industry and further secures a sustainable future for print media distribution, reflecting our shared commitment to supporting the industry over the long term."

For further information, please contact:

Smiths News PLC Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer Richard Clay, Chief Financial Officer www.smithsnews.co.uk	via Vigo Consulting
Vigo Consulting Jeremy Garcia / Fiona Hetherington / Safia Colebrook [e-mail]	Tel: [phone]

About Smiths News

Smiths News is the UK's largest news and magazine wholesaler and leading provider of early morning, end-to-end supply chain solutions. Smiths News has been delivering newspapers to retailers across the UK for over 200 years on behalf of the major national and regional publishers. Today, Smiths News delivers to over 21,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis, and is in the process of expanding that network to over 37,000 customers. 

Smiths News's service capability now extends into a number of new verticals that build on its expertise in warehousing, reverse logistics and early morning final mile services, across its extensive high-density UK delivery network, including a waste recycling collection service, the delivery of additional categories such as books and home entertainment, and extending our services in the final mile.

The speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is critical to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains and we remain focused on continuing to deliver best in class service to the newspapers and magazines market, whilst exploring opportunities for growth based on this strong foundation.

For more information, please visit: www.smithsnews.co.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: [e-mail]

 

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