Latcham Direct targets growth with CGL acquisition

Digital printer Latcham Direct has acquired print management company CGL as it looks to grow its range of services and addressable markets.

Completed in the summer, the deal is the circa £10m turnover, Bristol-based company’s first acquisition. The business employs more than 90 staff and delivers services including print production, mailing, secure document fulfilment and specialist digital communications.

CGL, which was established in 1988, delivers a range of print, mailing and distribution services and products to sectors such as local authorities, membership organisations, charities and universities.

Based in Crawley, West Sussex, the CGL team will continue to provide its core services, which include design, critical mailings, print management, project management, warehousing, distribution and fulfilment.

Five staff worked at CGL when it was acquired and a new employee was taken on earlier this week, taking its headcount to six.

Working closely with the the Latcham Direct team, CGL will now trade under the brand Latcham/CGL although the group is planning a rebrand during 2018 that will see Latcham/CGL and Latcham Direct come together under one consistent brand.

Latcham Direct managing director Mike Hughes said: “CGL is a perfect, complementary fit for us in terms of the expert print management and digital solutions it provides and its commitment to delivering the highest possible service to clients.

“Together we are bigger and stronger, enabling us to provide an even greater number of organisations with the capability to communicate and engage more effectively with customers across multiple channels. Also helping them to enjoy greater efficiency, cost savings and more control over their print and digital communications for that all-important competitive edge.”

He added: “This acquisition is the first important stage in the continued expansion of Latcham Direct, demonstrating our commitment to the print sector and the huge opportunities that digital communications represent now and into the future. These are exciting times and we are looking forward to expanding the Latcham Group further in the months that lie ahead.”

The business has also installed a new Ricoh IP5000 continuous inkjet printer and Imprint MIS in the last few months while last year it bought a Duplo iSaddle Pro Digital System.