The contract, which is for an undisclosed sum, could be the forerunner for a series of wins, as Antalis revealed that it expected to announce another five similar-size deals in the next few months.

National business manager for Antalis, Marc Jacobs, described the DC Thomson contract as another "significant business win" for the company, which recently signed a two-year contract with building and plumbing merchant Wolseley UK.

Jacobs said: "Antalis is becoming a very strong player in the area of national accounts for packaging distribution.

"DC Thomson is another good example of a customer that needs the same level of service for all UK sites, regardless of location, and this is something Antalis Packaging can deliver.”

Objectives for the contract included optimising the supply base and packaging materials, and reducing costs without compromising on quality.

The division increased its sales by 24% for the year ending 2008, and said it is hopeful that it will report a similar figure at the end of 2009.

Antalis Packaging's head office is in Coalville, and it services its customer base through 15 regional centers while operating in 21 countries across Europe.