Jarrolds managing director William Mills has insisted the loss of another major catalogue contract wont knock the group off course.


Weve been refocusing the business for some time, said Mills. The trouble is that business-to-business catalogues are very seasonal.


The latest loss, the annual catalogue for electrical components group Farnell, follows the RS Components catalogue, which was awarded to Denmarks Stibo Graphic (PrintWeek, 5 May).


For the last three years we have been seeking to lessen our dependence on B-2-Bs, added Mills. We saw the writing on the wall.


Its still an important product for us but all our investment has been away from that area.


Jarrolds had worked with Farnell on and off for 20 years.


Mills said the firms focus on magazine printing remained as strong as ever.


And last month the group ordered a Muller Martini Tempo stitching line, which Mills hopes to install as soon as we can get it.


Farnell international publishing manager Monica Proctor was unavailable for comment as PrintWeek went to press.


Farnell supplies 100,000 electrical products from companies such as Philips and Motorola.


Story by Gordon Carson