The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has produced its own version of the popular carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, to highlight the problems likely to be faced by independent retailers between December 25 and January 7.

It said it created its own version of the carol after service levels from news wholesalers were found wanting in 2013:

On the Twelfth day of Christmas my wholesaler sent to me:

12 Missing credits

11 Short Expresses

10 New Excuses

9 Misdelivered Bundles

8 Wet Tote Boxes

7 Unactioned Order Amendments

6 Torn Mails

5 Unwanted Boxouts

4 Missing Invoices

3 Late Deliveries

2 Broken Partworks

And a forged signature on an RDT.

NFRN chief executive Paul Baxter said: “When it comes to supplying independent newsagents in 2013, news wholesalers should hang their heads in shame.

“Top of the list of all their New Year resolutions has to be to improve service levels to NFRN members in 2014 and the NFRN looks forward to engaging positively with them and  working together to find solutions to all the problems surrounding delivery, copy allocations and service.”