Business

The slow and steady improvement for output and order growth in the UK’s printing and printed packaging industry continued in Q2 2024 according to the BPIF’s latest Printing Outlook report.

The proposed £3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has been called in for government review under the National Security and Investment Act.

National World is on the lookout for more buys, and has reported increased profits at the half-year stage.

Matthew Herbert, former director of a number of failed print businesses, has been bankrupted by a creditor.

Heidelberg, Koenig & Bauer, and Mondi have all released financial updates this week.

JH Label Solutions rebranded to Zeus Labels on in June, a year after Zeus Group bought the James Hamilton Group.

While tribulations at two of the UK’s largest print groups topped last month’s ranking of our biggest stories, there were still reasons to be cheerful with a smattering of ramp-ups and start-ups. 

Reach has cut operating costs by 9% including an £11m reduction in its newsprint bill, and with headcount down 14% as part of the restructuring announced at the end of last year.

Food packaging group Coppice Alupack has stepped in to buy Sirane following the latter's fall into administration a fortnight ago. It plans to rehire 70-80% of the company’s workforce.

A packaging company had to evacuate its premises after a huge fire at a nearby business.