Tewkesbury-based Cooper Clegg will produce Emaps long-awaited ZOO Weekly title, which will hit newsstands at the end of the month, with Colour Systems handling the pre-press.

IPC Media has reacted to Emap's plans and will launch its rival title Nuts on 15 January. It will be printed by Polestar Chantry, with the repro being handled by the Graphic Facilities Group (London). The first paid for Nuts will be on sale on 22 January.

Emap has forecast that ZOO Weekly will have a circulation of 150,000 within a year, while IPC has not revealed Nuts circulation although it will back its launch by giving away over 1m copies.

The titles represent an 8m investment for both publishers.

Emap group production director Andy Franks said that the launches represented an exciting time for the publishing industry and were good news for print.

Cooper Clegg also prints ZOO Weeklys stablemate FHM.

The Nuts contract adds to Polestar Chantrys recent successes, having secured the printing of BBC Magazines' Songs of Praise magazine late last year.

Both publications will offer an editorial mix of sport, news, fashion and women.

Nuts will join the IPC Ignite! portfolio of mens lifestyle and music magazines, alongside the likes of Loaded, NME and Uncut.

Story by Andy Scott and John Davies