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UK supply chain challenges ‘most extreme’ seen: Hachette CEO

Hachette UK CEO David Shelley has warned ongoing supply chain problems are causing the ‘most extreme’ challenges he’s seen in his career, reports the Bookseller.

In his annual letter to authors, Shelley explained how factors including the pandemic and Brexit have led to ‘squeezes’ on paper and printing, as well as increased shipping costs and delays.

‘One of the issues our team have been grappling with is a worldwide shortage of paper,’ said Shelley. ‘Due to unexpected surges in sales in all markets during Covid lockdowns, the world has gone from having plentiful paper supplies to having not quite enough.’

Shelley noted there is ‘a similar challenge in printing capacity’ while warehouse capacity is also ‘at a premium’, making it harder than normal to book delivery slots with retailers. Despite the challenges, Shelley said, ‘At the time of writing, I feel our production and distribution teams are managing to cope with these challenges without too many ill effects, but it is clear that these will be ongoing issues and that 2022 will be marked by them.

‘Watch this space in 2022 and we will continue to do all we can to navigate these challenges that are, by a long way, the most extreme that I have seen in my 24 years in publishing.’

 

Category: International news