Smiths News
Smiths News is a United Kingdom distributor of newspapers, magazines, books and related consumer products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Smiths News is a United Kingdom-based distribution business serving retailers with newspapers, magazines, books and other fast-moving consumer products. Its roots lie in the news-distribution operation historically associated with WHSmith. The business became an independent listed company when it was separated from WHSmith in September 2006, at which point it operated under the Smiths News name. The company occupies an intermediary position in the retail supply chain. Rather than primarily selling products to consumers through its own stores, it distributes print and related products to retail outlets, helping publishers and suppliers reach newsagents, convenience stores and other points of sale. Its product mix has included daily and Sunday newspapers, consumer magazines, books and consumables. This model requires nationwide delivery capabilities, depot operations, inventory handling and the management of products with strict publication schedules and, in many cases, short selling windows. In April 2014, the company adopted the name Connect Group PLC. The rebrand was intended to reflect a wider set of activities and markets beyond the traditional newspaper and magazine distribution identity. During this period, the group also pursued diversification outside its core print-distribution operations. In November 2014 it acquired Tuffnells Parcels Express, a parcels and logistics business, for more than £100 million. Tuffnells subsequently performed poorly under the group’s ownership and was sold in April 2020 for £15 million, marking a substantial retreat from that diversification strategy. Connect Group returned to the Smiths News name in October 2020. The change restored the identity most closely associated with its principal distribution business and followed the disposal of Tuffnells. Smiths News remains a publicly listed company and has been a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. Its current identity is principally tied to the distribution of newspapers, magazines, books and consumables in the United Kingdom, rather than to the retail-store business operated by WHSmith.
History
Smiths News developed from the news-distribution activities associated with WHSmith. Those operations supplied newspapers and other publications to retailers and formed the basis of the business that was later separated from WHSmith. On 1 September 2006, the distribution operation was demerged and renamed Smiths News PLC, creating an independently listed company distinct from WHSmith’s retail operations. The business continued to focus on the distribution of newspapers, magazines and books, while also handling consumables and related products for retail customers. Its role in the supply chain involved coordinating publishers, suppliers, depots, delivery operations and retail outlets. This made it an infrastructure business for the UK print and convenience-retail markets rather than a conventional consumer-facing retail brand. In April 2014, Smiths News PLC changed its name to Connect Group PLC. The new name reflected management’s effort to present the company as a broader distribution and logistics group rather than a business defined solely by news and magazine wholesaling. The diversification strategy included the acquisition of Tuffnells Parcels Express in November 2014 for more than £100 million. Tuffnells expanded the group’s exposure to parcel delivery and logistics but did not deliver the expected performance over the following years. Connect Group sold Tuffnells in April 2020 for £15 million, a considerably lower figure than the acquisition price. The disposal reduced the group’s exposure to that underperforming operation and represented a return toward its core distribution activities. In October 2020, the company changed its name back to Smiths News PLC. The restored name aligned the corporate identity with the business’s principal market position: distributing newspapers, magazines, books and consumables to retailers across the United Kingdom. Smiths News is headquartered in Swindon, England, and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. The available reference material does not identify a current chief executive, detailed depot network, or a separate consumer product brand portfolio. Its significance lies primarily in its role as a wholesale distribution and delivery platform for print products and associated retail goods.
- 2020
Disposal of Tuffnells
[1]Tuffnells Parcels Express was sold for £15 million after several years of poor performance under Connect Group ownership.
- 2020
Return to Smiths News branding
[1]Connect Group PLC changed its name back to Smiths News PLC.
- 2014
Rebrand to Connect Group
[1]Smiths News PLC adopted the Connect Group PLC name to reflect a broader distribution and logistics profile.
- 2014
Acquisition of Tuffnells
[1]Connect Group acquired Tuffnells Parcels Express for more than £100 million.
- 2006
Demerger from WHSmith
[1]The WHSmith News distribution operation was separated from WHSmith and renamed Smiths News PLC.
Products and positioning
A specialist UK wholesale and logistics partner connecting publishers and suppliers with newsagents, convenience stores and other retailers.
Print distribution
Newspapers
Smiths News distributes newspapers to retail outlets in the United Kingdom. This activity involves handling scheduled daily and Sunday publications, coordinating deliveries and supporting availability at newsagents, convenience stores and other retailers. Newspapers are time-sensitive products, so the distribution operation depends on reliable early-morning logistics and close coordination with publishers and retail customers.
Print distribution
Consumer magazines
Magazine distribution is a core part of Smiths News’s wholesale role. The company handles a broad range of periodic consumer publications and supplies them to retailers. The category requires product allocation, delivery and returns management because magazines have scheduled publication dates, varying sales periods and changing retail demand.
Book distribution
Books
Smiths News distributes books through retail channels as part of its wider publishing and media supply-chain activities. The book category complements newspapers and magazines by allowing retailers to source multiple types of printed product through the same distribution infrastructure.
Retail supply
Consumables
The company also distributes consumables and related products for retailers. These goods broaden the assortment handled by the distribution network beyond printed media and support the needs of convenience and news-retail customers.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell Tuffnells Parcels ExpressM&ABackground
Tuffnells had performed poorly during its period within the group.
Action taken
Connect Group sold Tuffnells in April 2020 for £15 million.
Aftermath
The disposal reduced the group’s diversification outside its core distribution operations.
Sale price. £15 million (April 2020)
2020
Restore the Smiths News nameStrategyBackground
Following the disposal of Tuffnells, the company’s principal activities again centred on its established print and retail distribution business.
Action taken
Connect Group PLC changed its name back to Smiths News PLC in October 2020.
Aftermath
The restored corporate identity emphasised the company’s core UK news, magazine, book and consumables distribution operations.
2014
Rebrand as Connect GroupStrategyBackground
Management sought to represent the company as serving a wider range of distribution and logistics markets.
Action taken
Smiths News PLC changed its corporate name to Connect Group PLC.
Aftermath
The company pursued diversification beyond its traditional print-distribution identity.
2014
Acquire Tuffnells Parcels ExpressM&ABackground
Connect Group sought to expand its distribution and logistics exposure beyond newspapers, magazines and books.
Action taken
The group purchased Tuffnells Parcels Express in November 2014 for more than £100 million.
Aftermath
Tuffnells later delivered poor performance under the group’s ownership and was ultimately sold in 2020.
Acquisition price. More than £100 million (November 2014)
2006
Separate the news-distribution business from WHSmithStrategyBackground
The distribution operation historically known as WHSmith News was separated from WHSmith’s retail business.
Action taken
The demerged company adopted the Smiths News PLC name on 1 September 2006.
Aftermath
The business became an independent listed distribution company focused on newspapers, magazines, books and related products.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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