Paarl Media
Paarl Media had a solid year with the two bigger operations, Paarl Gravure and Paarl Web, showing healthy growth. The new printing plant, Paarl Web Gauteng, exceeded expectations and increased volumes, and commissioned an additional press. Capacity was also increased at Paarl Web and Paarl Print. Paarl Print secured contracts from other African countries, and Paarl Labels performed well. The management team at Paarl Media was strengthened to deal with the steady growth of recent years.
However, the increasing price of paper and ink will constrain margins in future. Commercial printing volumes may come under pressure if customers, such as retailers, experience volume contractions.
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thousand circulation recorded by Move! |
Book publishing
This unit is now smaller following the disposal of Van Schaik Retail and Afribooks, but performed well.
Publishers and agents continued improvements from last year. School book publishers, Nasou Via Afrika (NVA) and Jonathan Ball Publishers, recorded solid performances.
General publishers, NB Publishers (including Tafelberg and Human & Rousseau), also had a good year, publishing numerous award-winning books. This included the first full-colour illustrated South African history book in nearly two decades.
Sustainability and corporate social investment
In addition to its empowerment initiative, Welkom Yizani, Media24 is committed to uplifting the lives of the communities in which it operates. It recognises the importance of its impact on the environment and the effective management of occupational health and safety risks, as well as the development of its employees.
Media24 produced its first official scorecard compliant with the South African department of trade and industry’s Codes of Good Practice through an independent verification agency. Media24 is proud to have achieved full points for both the enterprise development and socioeconomic development components. More details of the company’s social investment initiatives can be obtained on the website (www.media24.com).
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