PRC Directs Postal Service to Address Compliance Issues with Pricing and Service: Flat-shaped mail and service performance continue to be major areas of concern

HH Global has once again been recognized for our efforts in enabling our clients to further their sustainability and ESG goals and lessen their impact on the planet. The Co-operative Group are one of the UK’s largest grocery retailers, and one of our top ten UK clients. Through using the latest technology and assessing the environmental viability of our procurement model, from suppliers to materials, we have been able to successfully innovate the Co-op and subsidiary company Nisa’s sustainability strategies across the board. In 2021, our changes to the production of Nisa’s main marketing leaflet have prevented 175 tonnes of paper from going to waste. We have also standardized these leaflets, by producing them on the same FSC accredited paper used for their magazines and POS material. This means that the paper used across their major marketing channels has been harvested in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Sales for the quarter increased 2.8% as compared to the first quarter of 2020. Excluding revenues from the now divested Fabory and China businesses from the prior year results, and removing the impact from foreign currency translation, daily sales increased 5.9% as compared to the first quarter of 2020. Sales growth was fueled by both the High-Touch Solutions (N.A.) and Endless Assortment segments. Foreign exchange contributed a 1.1% favorable impact during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. There were 63 sales days in the first quarter of 2021 versus 64 sales days in the first quarter of 2020. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2021 was 35.5%, a 190 basis point decline over the prior year quarter. The unfavorable variance was driven almost entirely by a pandemic-related inventory adjustment in the U.S. business on certain non-core SKUs, which are selling below cost based on current market-relevant pricing. ely 30 basis points. Reported operating earnings for the first quarter of 2021 of $358 million were up 126% versus the first quarter of 2020, primarily due to charges taken in the first quarter of 2020 related to the now divested Fabory business. On an adjusted basis, operating earnings for the quarter of $358 million were up 4% versus the first quarter of 2020.

Bauer Publishing, the team behind many of the UK's favourite puzzle magazines including Take a Crossword and the Eclipse franchise, has launched a mixed puzzle magazine containing brain training and traditional puzzles produced exclusively for Asda in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society. Asda Brain Boost is a compilation of memory games, mindfulness pages and classic puzzles to engage both the left and right sides of the brain. The magazine aims to encourage readers to develop and improve their cognitive skills, with beat-the-clock challenges and puzzles with increasing levels of complexity. Exclusively sold in Asda, every Asda Brain Boost sale, priced at £3.50 each, will see 52p donated to Alzheimer’s Society. This magazine represents a real opportunity for readers to both boost their own mental fitness, and help to raise much-needed funds for Alzheimer’s Society’s fundamental work.