All five firms were awarded the contracts following company's print tender process for its  consumer titles.

Production manager Mike Lamb said all the companies had previously printed titles for Highbury, except William Gibbons.

St Ives, Garnett Dickinson and New Jarrold Printing have lost out under the new deal.

The tender process took nine months to complete. It followed a strategic review of all the firm's print deals. Rationalisation of print supply had been required following the acquisitions of Cabal and Paragon in 2003. The contracts begin next month.

The company produces more than 110 consumer publications, with an annual print spend of 11m.

Titles in the consumer division include Health & Fitness, Front, Carbuyer and Fast Bikes.

Story by Andy Scott