TRADE associations the NFRN and ACS have joined forces to raise concerns about the future of the newspaper supply chain.
In a joint letter to the Minister of State for Media and Data, John Whittingdale MP, the NFRN and ACS outlined a number of concerns.
They argued that the government should seek to address issues including carriage service charges (CSCs), requested delivery times, territorial protection and coupon redemption processes.
Stuart Reddish, national president of the NFRN said: “We stand ready to engage with publishers, wholesalers and the government to build a news supply chain that is fit for the challenges of 2020 and beyond.
“If the industry is to rise to that challenge then everything from the carriage service charge to absolute territorial protection and the handling of returns must be up for discussion.
“Only then will we be able to build a supply chain that works for everyone, including the customer waiting for his morning paper to be pushed through his letter box.”
ACS chief executive James Lowman added: “Sadly, convenience retailers are still contending with inefficiencies in the supply chain, such as late deliveries, which have a negative impact on their business and their ability to provide newspapers to their local customers.”
