Bedfords wins five-year Associated Newspapers contract extension

Bedfords Group has won a five-year contract extension with Associated Newspapers, covering distribution of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.

The Yorkshire operator will distribute to two titles across the UK until October 2018, delivering to 60 wholesalers and covering 140,000 miles every night.

It has also been named as Associated Newspapers’ preferred distributor for central London.

The operator was chosen because of its flexibility and cost-efficient rates, and Bedfords said it would deliver substantial savings to Associated Newspapers over the length of the contract.

Bedfords director Phil Lockwood said: “After productive negotiations we are thrilled to announce this extension of not only the contract, but our longstanding relationship with the Daily Mail.”

Bedfords also revealed plans expand this year, opening depots in undisclosed locations in the Midlands and London in addition to its sites in Sheffield, Wolverhampton and Newcastle.

Last year the operator expanded into international haulage.