Sherwood Press group managing director Jeremy Bacon said the contract value may increase over the five-year period, and that the deal could lead to the firm taking on temporary staff.

The firm installed an Indigo e-Print Pro digital press in February in anticipation of the contract, and is looking to put in a second digital print engine before Christmas. The cards will be printed in a combination of litho and digital.

Sherwood Press has also set up a dedicated call centre to handle the contract.

London-based 4C produces 2m charity Christmas cards a year for its 102 member charities, and donates around 400,000 each year.

4C administration director Justin Banon said it had previously used a number of printers, but with Sherwood Press it would have a more cost-effective and efficient service.

Sherwood Press won the PrintWeek Greetings Card and Fine Art Printer of the Year Awards in 1996, and was runner-up in 2001.

Story by Andy Scott