Denmaur Independent Papers has picked up exclusive stockist status in the UK for Garda’s coated paper range. This follows the decision by Premier Papers to drop distribution of Lecta’s papers in the UK at the end of last year and to focus on UPM Finesse instead.
Garda Silk and Garda Gloss will be stocked in depth at Denmaur’s central warehouse in Bardon in both paper and board weights. The mill on Lake Garda in northern Italy, can ship in volume within 7-10 days for special orders. The mill holds parent reels of the finished coated papers at the mill which ensures continuity of supply during machine shut downs for up dates and maintenance.
The paper has a reputation for having a surface that is suited to both offset and digital printing. has high whiteness value, good bulk and good colour reputation. The coating is resistant to cracking, the result of an offline coating process which produces a softer coating and the inclusion of latex elements. Drying characteristics are also optimised by the nature of the coating.
It will be positioned as a top quality paper by Denmaur alongside its woodfree coated now brand paper Amadeus. Like that paper the Garda papers will be carbon balanced at source, supporting the work of the World Land Trust.
Denmaur will begin with stocks for litho printing before adding digital papers to this next month. “Garda wanted to appoint someone they could trust to market and sell it properly,” says marketing director Danny Doogan. “We provide continuity of service for both users and the mill. It’s good for us to have a fine art paper out there.’
The paper is not an unknown for Denmaur’s CEO Andy Buxton. It had been sold as merchant branded Regency in a previous role. He says: “I’m very familiar with the mill and the brilliant paper it produces. Garda has a longstanding reputation for quality within the paper and print sectors, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to become the fully exclusive UK stockist of this magnificent range.”
Lecta has been undergoing its own reorganisation with financing arrangements expected to be finalised in the next few weeks. As part of the reorganisation it closed its Condat mill in the Dordogne region of France which at one time supplied Denmaur with paper it sold as Pavarotti.
