The firm, based in Gosport, Hampshire, was established more than 40 years ago.
It has long specialised in zero inventory and auto stock replenishment for publishers, developing sophisticated production systems to be able to print and bind multi-title orders, with despatch from 72 hours depending on the product.
The 86-employee firm runs litho and digital printing kit including Koenig & Bauer large-format and Heidelberg B1 and B2 litho, along with multiple HP high-speed inkjet web presses as well as digital systems from other suppliers. It was the first book printer to install HP’s High Definition Nozzle Architecture heads.
In its most recent accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023, Ashford Colour Press posted sales up 12% at £14.8m along with a “considerable improvement” in pre-tax profits, which increased to £315,736 from £250,288 without increasing headcount.
However, in his commentary dated December 2023 managing director Rob Hutcheson also noted that the beginning of the firm’s 2023/24 financial year had seen weakened sales, with sales in the first six months down 32% on the prior year as customers used up stocks.
He also said that a lot of longer run litho work had “now returned to the Far East” resulting in a significant reduction in that part of its business.
It’s not clear what has transpired since.
At the time the accounts were signed off the firm owed nearly £1m under the taxpayer-backed CBILS scheme that helped firms during the pandemic, due for repayment by August 2026.
Ashford Colour Press operates from an 8,361sqm facility and prints for trade, academic, educational publishing and commercial clients, with customers including Pearson, Harper Collins, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Hachette.
An industry source commented: “They are very into academic publishing, so I suspect they are struggling to maintain low contracted prices and a drop off post-academic season.”
Hutcheson filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators on 1 November.
It appears likely that Quantuma Advisory will be appointed, but this has not been confirmed as yet.
Hutcheson had not commented at the time of writing, but Printweek also understands a rescue deal for the business could be in the works.
