The north-east company also secured the northern region print award, while Taylor Bloxham won in the Midlands, Dayfold triumphed in the south, and Butler & Tanner topped the south-west category.

The Sunseeker brochure, a winner in the first Consort Royal awards held in 1988, was once again a winner in the service literature catalogues and manuals category, this time printed by Butler & Tanner.

Entries for the awards were up 8% on last year. Howard Smith chief executive Martyn Eustace said that despite it being a difficult year for the industry and paper merchants, the quality of entries had been fantastic.

Eustace added that there were plans to widen Consort Royals coverage, and announced Schneidershne at its latest European stockist.

Held at Les Pavillions de Bercy, the event was co-hosted by Consort Royal manufacturer Scheufelen and Howard Smith Paper.

Story by Andy Scott