Retailers Relieved as Smiths News Avoids Extra Carriage Charges

A recent announcement has brought relief to retailers, as Smiths News confirmed that they will not face an additional carriage charge when the company starts distributing News UK titles on July 8, 2024. This development addresses concerns raised by retailers who currently receive supplies from InPost.

In a letter to its new customers, Smiths News tackled the issue of potential dual carriage charges, which had been a major concern for the Federation of Independent Retailers. The organization has long argued that retailers should not be forced to pay twice for the same service, as this could jeopardize the viability of newspaper sales and lead to a decline in the number of retail stockists.

Hemanshu Patel, national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers, expressed satisfaction with the announcement, saying, “I’m pleased that Smiths News has listened to the concerns we’ve consistently raised about the prospect of a second carriage charge.

We’ve made it clear this was simply not acceptable and that failing to address it could accelerate the decline in newspaper stockists and sales. This confirmation is therefore welcome news for independent retailers and demonstrates the importance of making sure retailers’ concerns are heard.”

The Federation of Independent Retailers has welcomed this confirmation, stating: “This is another hurdle overcome, and for anyone in doubt, this news reconfirms that Go National will be happening. It’s important that retailers have certainty as the industry prepares for these significant changes to newspaper distribution.”

The Go National project will see Smiths News expand its distribution network to supply thousands of additional retailers across Britain. Further agreements with other publishers and magazine distributors are anticipated.

Although the Federation of Independent Retailers has welcomed the announcement, the organization emphasized that further clarification is still necessary as additional distribution agreements take effect.

Smiths News has indicated that it will continue to review its charging arrangements as newspaper volumes are transferred, with any potential delivery service charge expected no later than January 2028.

Brian Murphy, the Federation of Independent Retailers’ news and operations director, stated, “We remain very mindful that confirmation will still be required as other contracts commence. The Fed will continue to engage fully with the supply chain to ensure that the interests of independent retailers are protected and that any requirement for dual carriage charges from 2028 is avoided wherever possible.”

Retailers affected by the changes are requested to provide their business details to Smiths News by November 14, 2026 to facilitate a smooth transition.