Courier Reports Education Sales Up, Borders Fallout Induces Loss

Courier’s book manufacturing segment had third-quarter sales of $55 million, down 3 percent from $56.8 million in last year’s third quarter. The segment’s third-quarter operating income was $5.1 million, up 35 percent from $3.7 million a year ago. Gross profit in the segment was $11.6 million or 21 percent of sales, versus $10 million or 17.6 percent of sales in fiscal 2010, reflecting an increased percentage of four-color work as well as operating efficiencies made possible by recent technology investments and the closing of the Stoughton plant.