WSJ Europe ups FT battle with new distribution deal

by Alex Donohue, Brand Republic 08-Jun-06, 11:00

LONDON - The Wall Street Journal Europe has agreed a distribution deal with Associated Newspapers, which will significantly increase its circulation in the UK and Republic of Ireland, as it aims to take on the Financial Times.

The distribution deal was signed with Advantage, the third-party magazine and newspaper distribution arm of Associated Newspapers, and begins on June 19.

The deal means that more than 30 retail and 12 wholesale territory managers, who handle accounts with the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday in the UK and Republic of Ireland, will now work on increasing sales and distribution for the financial daily.

Anne Hogarth, the WSJE's retail marketing director, said: "We welcome the increased strategic exposure in the retail market that our agreement with Advantage will bring us.

"We're confident that the partnership will result in new opportunities to increase retail sales across Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."

The WSJE was previously distributed in the UK by the Telegraph Group. The title said it was prompted to change partners after the launch of its compact online integrated format last October, and the opening of printing operations in the Republic of Ireland and Turkey.

The WSJE, which reports its circulation twice a year, sold an average of 14,639 copies in the UK during July-December 2005. The FT, which reports its circulation monthly, sold an average of 128,402 copies in the UK during April 2006.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.