Quad Signs Print Contract

PEWAUKEE, WIS.—Quad/Graphics and Weider Publications, Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif., signed a five-year print contract valued at more than $100 million. The contract, which calls for the production of all seven of Weider's magazine titles, fortifies the publisher's 10-year relationship with Quad, whose $2 billion in sales involve design, digital photography, printing, list management, finishing, and distribution services.

Quad will print and distribute the following:

–Flex, a monthly for bodybuilders (print run: 325,000 copies);

–Fit Pregnancy, produced six times a year (720,000);

–Men's Fitness, a monthly (750,000);

–Muscle & Fitness, a monthly (870,000);

–Muscle & Fitness Hers, produced bimonthly (450,000);

–Natural Health, produced nine times a year (450,000); and

–Shape, a monthly for women (2.2 million copies).

Quad also will provide co-mailing and drop-shipping programs to expedite delivery at discounted rates.

The companies began their relationship in 1991 with production of the publisher's four biggest titles, then added new work. In 1997, Quad helped Weider adopt a digital imaging workflow that eliminated the use of film scans.

"We awarded all our titles to Quad based on service, quality, and our longstanding, good relationship," says John Hartung, Weider's vice president of manufacturing. "Basically, it's based on the confidence factor. We rely heavily on Quad to produce our titles in a quality manner and get them out in the marketplace on a timely basis. It does."