Publication Hospitality Catering Sectors For Sale

Business description

Asking Price : Offer Invited
Regionally based and originally, quite fittingly, conceived around the kitchen table this publication has evolved to become the essential companion to the hospitality industry. Restaurateurs, hoteliers, bar owners, caterers and buying groups all use this reference publication, comprehensively listing as it does, regional and national suppliers in this arena.
Currently produced annually with a glossy cover and high production values, this publication ensures that anyone involved in procurement has at his or her fingertips the fullest information as to which suppliers of produce, products and services are immediately on hand, and most anxious to supply all of their needs. Several ‘advertising opportunities are available, from a full company profile, a ‘third of the page’ feature right through to a small Classified ad. For a third of a page advertisers benefit from a roughly, 100 word entry under the relevant sections, which serve as a quick reference as to a supplier’s products and services with the full two page profile covering in much more detail the products and services on offer – all written in an easy style by the publisher on behalf of the supplier.
Free to the end user and with a controlled circulation building to a target of approx. 10,000 in London and the Home Counties this publication can boast a high number of repeat advertisers and growing advertising yields per page and is now supported by a superbly designed, easy to navigate web-site with a very appropriate, easy to remember, instantly recognisable and highly sought after domain name.
With annual advertising revenues of £250,000 for an edition that covers just the M25, generating gross profits of £198,000 this is an excellent opportunity to acquire an already profitable publication with excellent growth prospects.
Key strengths:
This publication is quite simply the ‘Bible’ for the Hospitality industry – an invaluable source of reference for restaurateurs, hoteliers, caterers, wholesalers, retailers, airlines, breweries, schools, hospitals, government procurement, and many others who need to source suppliers and service providers.
This publication is the most cost effective form of advertising available to its Client base of mainly small and medium sized enterprises supplying the catering sector. Guaranteed to get to its extremely difficult to reach, time starved audience, this is a highly sought after advertising medium. Consequently this publication carries a very high level of repeat advertising, enabling forthcoming issues to be planned with ease and a level of predictability in cash flow and profitability. A glossy cover and high production values ensure the book is well received by the target audience whilst still minimising production costs.

Key opportunities:
The catchment area for this publication has remained largely unchanged for a number of years. The production of other editions, extending to other major conurbations – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham etc is certainly a possibility. And acknowledging the requirement for suppliers in the catering trade to be as close as possible to their customer base the opportunities for regional and indeed international editions of this publication has recently led to a franchise test launch. Following this successful launch a detailed business plan has been prepared mapping out a national and international roll-out. Based on even the most conservative projections the potential returns are significant.
Furthermore, there is also the potential to extend this concept into a number of other areas, the construction industry or landscape gardeners, for example.

Although there is currently an advertising sales team working on this publication it is also involved in selling other titles within the group’s portfolio. It could be argued that a more professional, dedicated approach including potential field sales activity would drive turnover much higher and the web-site could be upgraded to offer an additional route for advertisers.

Property information

Location:

The Offices:
The publication is currently produced as part of a portfolio of other publishing interests and as such this publication is easily re-locatable.

Other information

Competition / Market:

Word of mouth recommendation, the continuing presence of the publication in the marketplace together with its high levels of readership are its best forms of advertising. The publication is featured as part of the portfolio of services offered by the publication’s owners, though it could be argued that a dedicated website more clearly espousing the benefits of advertising within the publication might draw in some of the bigger advertisers that operate within this sector.

Support & training:

The current owners will assist fully in facilitating a smooth transfer of this publication to new Owners.

Reasons for selling:

The family members involved in the business past and present, having spent many years developing it to its current highly profitable situation now seek a more leisurely lifestyle to enable them to indulge in other personal interests.