Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
From 1 January, the Daily and Sunday Mirror, the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail, will go up in price by 10p per copy.
The cover price of the Daily and Sunday Express will also increase by 10p, with Saturday editions going up by 15p.
The Daily Star price will rise by 5p on midweek editions and by 10p on Saturday and Sunday, with the Sunday People will cost 10p more.
However, the price increases will not include pro rata profit margins for retailers – a disparity that has angered Fed members within the news trade.
The Fed’s national president, Muntazir Dipoti, said: “We are very disappointed with the latest announcement from Reach.
“In their trade letter, they closed off by thanking retailers for their ‘much-valued support’ – we would have preferred a pro rata terms adjustment as a more acceptable thank-you.”
He added: “Whilst we appreciate that trading conditions are tough for everyone, our members are the last link in the supply chain and the most vital. Without us, there are no sales.
“We are seeking an immediate meeting with senior Reach management to make our feelings known and to recoup the lost margins this latest move has created.”
Meanwhile, news retailers had some better news as they were told that they will see a return to their original profit margins on copies of daily and weekend editions of The Times.
Publisher News UK increased its cover prices on The Times in June, but reduced retailers’ profit margins and deferred a return to the original margins for six months.
The Fed’s head of news, Brian Murphy, said: “It was grossly unfair to delay paying retailers their fair dues, particularly on counter-top sales where there was no justification for delaying the increase.”
