Magazine distributor Benjamin News is closing down by April

Benjamin News Group, which has been in the magazine and book distribution business for almost 100 years, will close down in April. The family-owned business, which is based in Bois des Filions, Quebec, was founded in 1917 by Charlie Benjamin, a blind news vendor who sold newspapers on Notre Dame Street in Montreal and whose grandson Paul made the announcement. The closure will result in 225 people losing their jobs.

"Quebec is probably the most expensive market in North America to distribute magazines and books. It has the lowest density,” [Benjamin] told CTV Montreal. “The sale of the printed word, especially magazines, has decreased radically."

He said that a variety of deals had been made to allow other companies to take over his distribution to 7,500 retailers in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. Benjamin handles over 4,000 magazine titles.