American Speedy to Change Corporate Name to Allegra

The international printing franchise, American Speedy Printing Centers, Inc., announced it will change its corporate name to Allegra Network, Inc., resulting from the success of the Allegra brand introduced in 1996. The new name will be officially adopted this fall.

Allegra Network, Inc., is a variation of Allegra Print & Imaging, the name that has been adopted by many American Speedy Printing centers. The new name was created to describe the company's shift away from simple quick printing services to more sophisticated digital and Internet-based technologies.

Currently, 170 of American Speedy's 400 centers (45 percent of the Franchise system), have switched to the Allegra name. The fact that this segment represents more than 60 percent of the company's system-wide sales illustrates the exceptionally high success rate of the Allegra brand.

The name change reflects the company's repositioning away from being seen as a quick printer to a more sophisticated provider of full-service graphics and communications. This has enabled the company's centers to target larger and higher profile corporations and institutions.

Allegra represents not only a name change, but also a change in center operating standards. Centers that convert to the Allegra name must adopt digital printing technologies, achieve a high level of customer responsiveness and become a "total solutions" provider.

Even though the company will change its name to Allegra Network, Inc., it continues to support all of its multiple brands including Allegra Print & Imaging, American Speedy, Speedy Printing, Quik Print and Zippy Print. Many non-Allegra businesses qualify to become Allegras but have not yet chosen to convert brands in order to better suit the needs of their local markets.

American Speedy Printing Centers, Inc., is one of few U.S. franchise companies to successfully launch a new concept and continue to support its original brands. The company has also achieved sales growth for 24 consecutive years and now ranks number one in growth rate among all Printing franchise companies in the United States (based on 1995-99 data).

American Speedy Printing Centers, Inc. was founded in 1976 and started Franchising in 1977. The company is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Centers are located in the United States, Canada and the Far East, including Japan.