The Print Factory rebrands as it pursues GBP100m 2006 turnover
The Print Factory is set to rebrand its group operations as TPF Group, as it aims for a £100m turnover in 2006.
According to chief executive Steve Brundle, the exercise “will enable us to step up yet another level”.
The Northampton-based group will unveil its new look at a glittering party tonight for 150 guests at the official opening of its digital print and repro facility in Brentford, West London.
“It feels like the past 15 years have been building up to this week,” said Brundle.
The new structure is broken down as follows: TPF Business Solutions encompasses the group’s print management and facilities management arms; TPF Creative is the name for the design and copywriting services; warehousing and distribution will now come under the TPF Logistics umbrella; and the group’s transactional and direct mail will fall under TPF Direct. The Print Factory name will live on as the moniker for the group’s commercial print operation.
Wace and McCorquodale will continue to operate as standalone brands within the TPF Group.
To coincide with the rebrand, TPF’s revamped website (www.tpfgroup.co.uk) also went live today.
Speculation in the industry has hinted that the rebrand is another preamble to the group launching an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the future, making it more attractive to potential investors.
The group’s last accounts show a turnover of £78m. “We’ve recorded over 50% turnover growth each year for three years. In the context of the market, we’re obviously thrilled with that,” said group marketing and communications director Tony Wood.
The first staff moved into the Brentford facility yesterday (Wednesday, 8 February).
The group is still involved in discussions with potential suppliers of digital presses and repro equipment for the 2,800m2 factory, which will also house the account management team for Sky.
It is hoped the site will be up to full production around May.
– Phil Brooks’ interim role as group operations director has been made permanent.
12 MONTHS AT TPF
November: establishes its creative services division
November: lands a two-year £5m transactional mail deal with Sky, in addition to its £10m Sky PM deal
Summer: invests £5m in kit
July: lands two-year deal with Tussauds Group
May: buys McCorquodale Confidential Print
March: buys 70% stake in commercial printer Wace.
TripleArc, TPF deny bid talk
Print Week, p 4 12-08-2005
08 December, 2005
Both TripleArc and The Print Factory (TPF) have categorically denied rumours that TPF plans to bid for the listed print management firm.
TPF confirmed that it was “interested in the TripleArc situation” several months ago, but made no approach.
Following news of the proposed takeover of TripleArc client Virgin Mobile by NTL, part of a plan to challenge TPF’s client Sky, a TPF spokesman said: “I can categorically rule out a bid.”
A spokesman for TripleArc “categorically confirmed” that TPF had not approached the company.
