US drives Kogan Page growth

North London-based independent publisher Kogan Page has reported an increase in turnover from £5.2m to £5.4m for the year to 30th June 2007, which it attributed largely to strong sales in the US.

The company registered an operating profit of £95,030 during the year, up markedly from £38,983 the previous year.

Kogan Page put the growth down to an increase in sales in the US. M.d. Helen Kogan said: "Much of the increase in our top line sales came from the US, while things remained steady in the UK in the last financial year. We experienced a 30% growth in the States in the past year. We have a fantastic office there and a good relationship with our distributor Ingram [Book Group]."

It said it was confident of further improving its performance during the remainder of this financial year, having invested in management, print and supply chain improvements. The company also plans to launch a new transactional website during the next couple of months.

"We've put in place strong new management processes internally, and we've put new cost-effective printing processes in place, all of which made an impact on the figures reported, and which are continuing to do so this year," added Kogan. "While things did not grow significantly in the UK during the last financial year, we are working hard on our key accounts and we anticipate growth this year. We're feeling quite robust, quite optimistic."