The launch of a monthly in Somerset and the acquisition of a 135-year-old Welsh-language weekly in Wales has brought the number of Tindle Newspapers titles to 150.
The West Somerset Diary has been launched as a sister paper to the established West Somerset Free Press.
In Wales, Tindle has bought Y Dydd, the local weekly newspaper for Dolgellau, which was started in 1868.
It has joined the Cambrian News Group, which has been in Tindle ownership for five years.
It has taken chairman Sir Ray Tindle 53 years to build up the 150 titles. Just over half of the total has been achieved by launching new publications.
Tindle praised his colleagues for their tremendous enthusiasm and loyalty, which have contributed to the success of the family-owned business.
“Most of our papers are weeklies, but we have started local monthlies now – hence the rapid increase in our numbers in the past eight weeks,” he said. “Managing director Brian Doel is threatening to launch another six titles by Christmas.”
West Somerset general manager David Tucker said the West Somerset Diary had been well received by readers and advertisers. “It made a profit, too,” he added.
Cambrian News general manager Lis Owen Jones made it clear that the Welsh-language Y Dydd would not be a mini Cambrian News.
The aim is for Y Dydd to retain its independence as a local weekly newspaper for Dolgellau and the surrounding district.
By Jon Slattery
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