InPost Newstrade’s decision to freeze the carriage charge for around half its customers in the UK and to apply a below-inflation rise to larger news stores shows it’s listening to its retail customers, the Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has said.
Around 1,300 Fed members with lower newspaper and magazine sales will benefit when the new carriage charge template takes effect from 4 April this year.
In addition, stores with larger news bills will see their charge rise by £1.99 a week, with the total increase capped at £4.49.
In a letter to its retail customers yesterday, InPost Newtrade managing director, Claire McErlean, said: “We continue to invest in strengthening our network, technology and improving delivery performance to support your business with reliable, efficient service every day.
“Our goal is to protect value for our retailers and that’s why, in the face of rising costs and wider economic pressures, we’ve taken the decision to invest significantly in our CSC template.
“The approach has been designed to support value for retailers whilst prioritising service quality and the long-term resilience of the newstrade supply chain.”
The news wholesaler added that around 42% of its customers in Great Britain and around half in Northern Ireland will either see their charge reduce or no change. In the Republic of Ireland, this increases to around 90% of InPost Newstrade’s customer base.
Fed national president, Hetal Patel (left), added: “The Fed meets regularly with InPost Newstrade executives and we take every opportunity to remind them not only of the key role independent retailers play in the news supply chain but also of the challenges members face from rising costs and shop theft.
“From its actions, it is clear InPost Newstrade is not just listening but taking on board the Fed’s concerns about the importance of small stores in their communities and their profitability, especially when it comes to selling news.
“While we welcome any developments that ensure the sustainability of the printed word, we still believe that an alternative to carriage charges must be explored.”
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