The deal includes Your Membership, a quarterly 24pp A5 mini-magazine that is sent to 2m members, including those of recently merged Britannia, with the intention of cross-selling the company's range of services.

The agreement also covers three editions of the 36pp The Co-operative Magazine for the Midcounties, Midlands and Southern regions, which are sent out to 300,000 members twice a year.

In addition, the River will publish an as yet unnamed 12pp internal magazine that is sent to around 4,000 staff twice a year. It already publishes the tri-annual Traveller and Sailaway magazines for The Co-operative.

Financial details and the term of the contract were not disclosed.

Co-op direct marketing manager Anne Byrom said: "It was a natural choice for us to partner with River again to produce these titles. They understand our brand so well and we feel they reflect our own ethical values of openness and honesty, as well as providing the service and quality we always look for in our partners."

The Co-operative manages the printing of its own magazines, including Your Membership, although River Publishing manages the print contract for PEFC-certified The Co-operative Magazine, which has been awarded to Shropshire-based Precision Colour Printing.