At a special newspaper summit called by NFRN National President Martyn Brown on Friday (February 6), all national newspaper publishers agreed to work harder individually and collectively and with their appointed news wholesalers to improve the service retailers need and to address the knock-on effect of poor supply allocations to ensure that HND and roundsmen are better identified and understood.
Their vow, says the NFRN, came after the Federation’s head of news Brian Murphy unveiled stark findings from a poll of 80 members who were asked a series of questions concluding with what they needed the industry to do to ensure they continued to sell newspapers and were able to provide a service that suited their customers’ needs.
Highest on the list of demands was on-time deliveries and better overall service to HND agents, followed by correct supply levels and respect for shopkeepers.
Publishers heard that retailers were increasingly frustrated by not having enough copies and having to go to other stores to buy papers to satisfy their HND customers.
In response, the publishers all agreed to instruct wholesalers to identify HND retailers and roundsmen in a common way throughout their systems and to ensure that their supply levels were never cut below net sales.
In return, the NFRN agreed to communicate to members the importance of sharing accurate information about delivery rounds with their wholesaler so that the minimum quantities they require would be registered.
Publishers also appealed for retailers to make them aware of poor service levels and allocations and supported the NFRN’s call that a review of retailer delivery times (RDTs) was long overdue.
A follow up summit will now be held in late summer to review progress with news wholesalers invited to attend.
Commenting after the meeting, National President Martyn Brown said: “With 60 per cent of newspaper sales going through independent retailers and with HND the backbone of many of their businesses, it is vital that publishers, wholesalers and the NFRN work together to do all they can to protect the delivered copy.
“We were delighted to see all national newspaper publishers represented at our summit and it was particularly pleasing that they share our desire to fully support HND and want to pull out all the stops to protect its future.”
