The deal was reported by Swindon24 on Wednesday 17 June 2026. Smiths News, whose headquarters are at Kembrey Park in Swindon, will become the exclusive distributor of News UK's titles, The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times, across Great Britain.
What was agreed?
- The agreement extends and widens an existing partnership and runs until 2037.
- Smiths News takes over nationwide distribution from July 2027. It already had the exclusive wholesale role in several regions.
- The contract is expected to add £125 million a year in revenue.
- The two companies have worked together for more than 50 years.
Chief executive Jonathan Bunting said: "We are delighted to announce the extension and expansion of our partnership with News UK through to 2037." He said the deal allowed the company to freeze delivery service charges for its retail customers for the life of the contract.
What does it mean for Swindon?
Smiths News supplies newspapers and magazines to more than 22,000 retailers across England and Wales through an early-morning delivery network, and the report described it as one of Swindon's largest employers.
What happens next?
The company planned to invest in its infrastructure and build a larger national network before July 2027. It expected set-up costs during 2027 and a lift in earnings from 2028, with more financial detail to come alongside its annual results later in 2026.
Source: Swindon24.