After careful consideration, says News UK, the company will be discontinuing its direct-to-retail delivery service within the M25 region, effective from issue date Monday 13th November 2023.
This strategic move is aimed at further bolstering the retail sector, while ensuring the widespread availability of newspapers in various outlets, says News UK.
The decision to cease the direct-to-retail delivery service comes as part of News UK's ongoing efforts to enhance its partnership with the retail community. By eliminating the delivery charge associated with this service, £3 million of cost is saved by the retail category. This financial support underscores the company’s dedication to prioritising and strengthening the retail sector. Both independent retailers and multiples will benefit from this change, as neither party will have to pay a dual carriage charge. Moving forward, these deliveries will move to relevant territories for both Smiths News and Menzies Distribution.
According to News UK, the environmental impact of this move away from direct-to-retail is exponential, stopping the use of 100 vans per day. As a result, this will save 3,930 miles per day and 1.4m miles per year, ultimately stopping 320 tonnes of CO2 emitted every year.
News UK says it remains committed to ensuring newspapers continue to be accessible to consumers through a diverse network of outlets. The decision to discontinue the direct-to-retail delivery service is aligned with News UK’s mission to foster collaboration with retail partners and maintain a thriving ecosystem for the distribution of news and information.
Tracey Hart, Commercial Director of Newsprinters, said: “I fully understand the cost pressures that retailers are facing in today's dynamic market. The decision to discontinue our direct-to-retail service is designed to alleviate some of these challenges, enabling the affected retailers to benefit from the elimination of the dual carriage charge. Moreover, this strategic move allows us to contribute to a positive environmental narrative by removing 1.4 million miles from the road each year. We are committed to fostering a resilient retail category and promoting sustainability in our operations.”
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