Litho Supplies ends positive year

Litho Supplies has had a good financial year following its buyout of distributor United Graphics and the demise of rival Openshaw.

The group's pre-tax profits rose by 87% to 1.44m (2004: 770,000) on a turnover of 44m.

Chairman Bernard Clark said he was "content" with the progress the firm had made, despite the challenge of continued pressure on selling prices.

He said the price increases caused by rising costs of raw materials and energy would have to be passed on to the company's customers.

Clark added analogue consumables sales had declined by 20%, offset by an increase in sales of digital and pressroom consumables, which he said was down in part to the liquidation of Openshaw.