The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has responded to yesterday’s announcement that Associated Newspapers has appointed Smiths News as the national wholesale distributor for the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and the i newspaper across England, Scotland and Wales from 2027.
This follows News UK’s recent decision to appoint Smiths News as the exclusive national wholesale distributor for The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Commenting on the announcement, the Fed’s national president, Hemanshu Patel (left), said: “This latest announcement is neither surprising nor unexpected. While many will see this change as unprecedented, that’s not the case here at the Fed.
“There are undoubtedly both opportunities and challenges for the newspaper industry as a result of a change of this scale. It will require significant planning, collaboration and close attention to detail from all parties to ensure a smooth transition.
“The Fed will continue to engage constructively with publishers, wholesalers and retailers as we play our part in helping to ensure our members can continue to sell newspapers successfully and receive the reliable, uninterrupted service they depend upon.”
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