Smiths News expects to report full-year results ahead of market expectations, after stronger-than-expected demand for collectables helped drive a strong second half of its financial year.
The news wholesaler said it expects results for the 52 weeks ended 29 August 2026 to exceed market expectations, with the Men's FIFA World Cup making a record contribution of more than £3 million to its news and magazines business.
The company said stronger-than-expected demand for collectables in the second half of FY2026 had bolstered overall performance.
International football competitions typically boost Smiths News' performance in alternate years because of the timing of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships.
Smiths News said trading had also started positively in FY2027 and that it had begun a “transformational programme” to establish a national distribution footprint.
The expansion is intended to support new contract wins announced during the second half of FY2026, with the first contract due to go live in July 2027.
The company will provide further guidance on the financial impact of the network expansion when it announces its FY2026 results on 4 November.
Smiths News CEO Jonathan Bunting said the national contract awards with News UK, Associated Newspapers, Frontline and Seymour represented “significant milestones” for the business.
“With the distribution footprint expanding to deliver national coverage in 2027, alongside our strategy to grow other areas like recycling that complement our offering, the group is well positioned for growth in the coming years,” he said.
Smiths News currently delivers newspapers and magazines to more than 22,000 customers across England and Wales each day and is expanding its network to more than 38,000 customers.
The company said its services have also expanded into areas including waste recycling collections, books and home entertainment, as well as other final-mile services.