Wyndeham/Haymarket deal extended to 2012

Wyndeham Press Group has secured a two-year contract extension with its largest customer, Haymarket Media, in a deal it described as "business critical".

Dave Emeny, managing director of Wyndeham Heron, said: "The priority has to be to retain your major customers. We've done that now and we're feeling confident."

The 35-title renewal to 2012, signed this week, comprises the bulk of Haymarket's magazines including flagship weeklies PrintWeek, Marketing and Autocar and high-profile monthlies Stuff and FourFourTwo.

Haymarket group production director Chris King said the company was "pleased to support" the printer and that a "significant amount of new work" would also be heading for Wyndeham.

He added: "Wyndeham has been through a very difficult period following the Icelandic financial meltdown, culminating in the restructuring of Heron with 163 job cuts.

"Heron are to be applauded for their determination to succeed. The efforts of Paul Utting and Dave Emeny have been remarkable."

The extension follows a similar eight-title deal with the National Maga­zine Company earlier this month.

Emeny added that the changes made after the buyout by Walstead Investments had left the company in good shape for the downturn.