Egmont hinted but refused to confirm that its trial that saw independent news sellers receive magazines returned from multiples six weeks late may have been dropped.

Siobhan Galvin, commercial director at Egmont Magazines, told guests at an event last week: “All UK outlets are supplied with what we term ‘wave-one’ copy.” 

Seymour Distribution helped deliver the trial. Its client services director, Duncan Shearer, told Better Retailing the scheme was focused on putting unsold UK copies on sale in the Republic of Ireland and overseas. 

However, Shearer and Galvin refused to answer whether independent shops in the UK were receiving Egmont titles at launch. 

More on this story:

• Egmont sparks retailer fury over trial results
• EXCLUSIVE: Egmont to lobby other publishers with trial data
• Egmont reveals plans to add another title to its multiple first trial