Bristol-based Wiltshires was the last to gain the certificate, following Apple Web Offset in Warrington and Acorn Web Offset in Normanton.

Group sales director John Preston said the standard would help Trader to win contracts in a market where buyers were becoming more demanding of their suppliers.

Quite a few will only deal with you if you have ISO procedures in place, he added.

Preston said the new working procedures delivered through the standards had been well received by staff. They thought it was like a paper chase but when you explain what it does, they are keen, he said.

The group is also looking at the possibility of going for the ISO 14001 environmental standard, although no final decision has yet been made.

Trader Media Print Group employs 600 staff and has sales of around 78m.

Story by Gordon Carson

Picture: Trader's three site MDs