5 Aug. 2025: GF Smith has confirmed that Fedrigoni is the new manufacturing partner for its iconic Colorplan range of coloured papers.
It was revealed last month that James Cropper had lost a “significant customer” for coloured papers, subsequently confirmed by Printweek to be GF Smith, and marking the end of a relationship that had spanned more than half a century.
Colorplan was originally launched in 1972. Manufacturing moved from Edward Collins and Sons to James Cropper in Cumbria the following year.
GF Smith managing director Gareth Sheekey explained the rationale behind the change.
He told Printweek: “GF Smith has always worked with a range of world-class paper manufacturers. These now include, on a non-exclusive basis, Fedrigoni for GF Smith Colorplan.
“In recent years, James Cropper PLC has restructured its papermaking operations in a way that, in our opinion, no longer supports the evolving needs of GF Smith or our customers. We have therefore taken the strategic decision to change the manufacturing supplier of GF Smith Colorplan.”
Sheekey said that detailed plans were in place to ensure there would be no disruption for customers.
“This process is now underway. Significant time and effort has been invested to ensure a seamless transition for our customers, with no impact on quality, pricing, availability or service,” he stated.
“We thank James Cropper PLC for our previous collaboration and look forward to the next chapter in the GF Smith story.”
James Cropper is poised to launch an own-brand range of coloured papers following the split.
The GF Smith business dates back to 1885, when George Frederick Smith set out on a mission to supply printers and publishers with “the finest paper”.
Sheekey added: “Although GF Smith's coloured papers weren't consolidated under the Colorplan brand name until 1972, the origins of Colorplan date to the 1930s, when a number of the core colours were first developed. The papers that would form the range were made at several mills, including Robert Craig and Edward Collins and Sons, before production was moved to James Cropper in 1973.”
The switch will also mark a big change in messaging for GF Smith, which has long vaunted Colorplan as being “made sustainably in Great Britain”.
The Hull-based merchanting group has put a lot of work into expanding the brand internationally.
Overall sales at GF Smith were flat at £30.62m in the year to 31 October 2024. The UK is by far and away its biggest market with sales of £22.67m, but sales to the ‘rest of the world’ excluding Europe were up by just under £1.6m, at £4.74m.
Sheekey noted that the Colorplan brand was “created, owned and continuously developed by GF Smith” and now had global recognition.
“Today, it is sold in 65 countries around the world and stocked for next-day delivery in more than 30.
“From our base in Hull, we build close, collaborative relationships with all our supplying mills, to ensure we consistently meet the highest standards. As we continue to grow and innovate, it is essential that all our supply chains are sufficiently secure and efficient to enable us to continue creating and curating our portfolio of more than 500 immediately available paper shades.”
GF Smith rebranded with a bold new look at the beginning of the year.
Acquisitive Fedrigoni, which is headquartered in Italy and owned by Bain Capital, does not currently own any mills in the UK. It has multiple mills on the continent and worldwide. It makes special papers, including coloured grades, at its Verona mill and also at the historic Cordenons operation, also in Italy.
Printweek understands that while Fedrigoni has become the sole manufacturer of Colorplan at the current time, GF Smith could also work with other mills in the future to produce the range.
By Jo Francis, Printweek