The Big Issue is going computer-to-plate for the first time as part of its revamp and change of printer.
Goodhead in Bicester won the contract to print magazine from Wiltshires. The run is around 150,000 a week. The deal covers the magazines editions in London and the South East, the Midlands, the North East, South West and Wales.
The Big Issue will now be printed using glossy paper and it has also undergone a "radical redesign" according to editor Matthew Collin.
Goodhead will receive PDF files from The Big Issue and send them through a Heidelberg Prinergy workflow. Between 30 and 36 Lastra Extrema plates per week will be set on a Trendsetter system before being sent for printing on a Komori System 38 web, said pre-press manager David Bunn.
The contract means that FE Burman in London will lose its repro deal with The Big Issue.
The Big Issue managing director Chris Haslum said Goodhead "gave us a very attractive price. They were already running CTP for a number of other publishers and showed a keenness to take the job".
The first revamped issue goes on sale on 10 July and features model Naomi Campbell on the cover, plus an interview with Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
The deal does not include The Big Issues North and Scotland editions.
Earlier this year, Goodhead also won the contract to print Exchange & Mart (PrintWeek 17 March).
Story by Gordon Carson