Specialist printer Wyndeham Press sounded a note of cautious optimism last night, despite seeing annual profits fall by nearly a third.

The group, which prints Marie Claire, What Car, GQ and Construction News, reported no major improvement in trading conditions, but said contract wins would boost its performance in the current financial year.

Additional work has been secured to print magazines such as IPC Media's flagship title Ideal Home and five titles for Reed Business Information.

A new central sales force will also target blue-chip clients, such as major supermarkets and car manufacturers, to increase turnover from commercial printing and direct mail.

Wyndeham is one of the UK's leading printers of specialist magazines, commercial literature and direct mail.