| Type | Public (LSE: MNZS) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1833 |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Revenue | GB£1,450.4 million (2006) |
| Operating income | GB£34 million |
| Net income | GB£27.2 million |
| Employees | 14,800 (2005) |
| Divisions | Menzies Aviation Menzies Distribution EM News Distribution (50%) |
| Website | www.johnmenziesplc.com |
John Menzies plc (men-zeez, traditionally /ˈmɪŋɪs/ ming-iss) is a Scottish business established in 1833. It has two main divisions: Menzies Distribution and Menzies Aviation. Menzies Distribution is a major distributor of newspapers and magazines throughout the United Kingdom. Menzies Aviation is a provider of aviation services to many airlines.
John Menzies and the Menzies Distribution division have their head offices in Edinburgh.[1] The Menzie's Aviation plc division has its head office in Feltham, London Borough of Hounslow.[2][3] Previously the aviation division head office in the Aviation House at London Heathrow Airport in the London Borough of Hillingdon.[1][4]
The John Menzies name is still strongly associated with its now-defunct retail operation, particularly in Scotland.
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The company was founded by John Menzies of Edinburgh, 1808-1879, a Victorian entrepreneur who built up his small newsagent business (established when he was 25 years old) into a national chain. His grave is in Warriston Cemetery Edinburgh.
Until 1998, John Menzies also owned a chain of newsagent shops, many of which were based at railway stations. In Scotland, it also owned a significant number of larger stores, dominating the same market niche that W H Smith's High Street stores occupied in England and Wales.
In the late 1980s, John Menzies purchased 66 of the Martin Retail Group's largest stores in England, doubling their floor-space overnight. These stores (which had previously traded as Martin the Newsagent, Lavells Newsagents, Lewis Meeson, RS McColl, Sperrings, and House of Andrew) were quickly rebranded as Menzies' stores.
The retail operation was sold to W H Smith High Street (and some to WHSmith Europe Travel Retail) in 1998 to enable Menzies to concentrate on its distribution business.
The name Menzies is traditionally pronounced /ˈmɪŋɪs/ ming-iss, as the "z" is historically the letter ȝ (yogh). Even in Scotland (where the name "Menzies" originated), the name of the retail stores was increasingly pronounced as "John MEN-zeez".
John Menzies provide a humorous guide to the correct pronunciation.[5]
As of February 2007 John Menzies is in the process of merging its newspaper and magazine wholesale distribution businesses in Northern Ireland into a joint venture with Eason & Son to be called EM News Distribution.[6]