Retailers can make more than 25% margin on delivered copies of the Mail thanks to an increase in its enhanced payment scheme for home news delivery retailers. 

From 30 September, the basic enhanced pay for all Mail copies delivered increased from 0.7p to 1p (43% increase). 

The additional payment for every copy delivered through the Mail’s HND subscriptions platform has also increased from 2p to 2.6p (30% increase). 

Combined with the standard retailer margin, the increases give participating stores a 25.1% margin, significantly more than any other national news publisher. 

The margin for those not participating in the scheme remains unchanged at 21.8%. 

When the scheme launched in 2023, Daily Mail Group said the enhanced payment offered almost £400 a year extra profit for the average home news delivery agent. Extrapolations by Better Retailing suggest that figure is now approximately £532 extra profit. 

The Fed’s head of news, Brian Murphy, said: “The Fed recognises that the Mail deserves credit for staying true to its word and increasing its enhanced payments as retailers had been promised.” 

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The letter, which arrived in tandem with the beginning of HND Month’s second year, stated: “We continue to recognise the importance of HND and are excited to continue our developments in this area, working with fantastic retail partners like yourself.” 

Craig Etchells, owner of C & W Etchells in Manchester, told Better Retailing: “It’s a great sign of support from the Mail – understanding that HND copies are vital to the future of the newstrade. 

“More publishers should consider making sure those who face additional challenges in making deliveries get additional reward.” 

In his column on page 17 of this week’s Better Retailing, former i key accounts manager Paul Bacon urges wholesalers and other publishers to also consider “preferential terms” for retailers on delivered copies. 

Retailers who are not currently receiving enhanced margins can take advantage of the offer by signing up to use PaperRound. 

To collect Level One payments, stores must tick the box on PaperRound to opt into sharing data with Mail newspapers. 

For Level Two payments, retailers must sign the Mail newspapers Service Level Agreement and go live on the Mail’s HND Subscriptions platform. 

The enhanced payments are paid out weekly on all applicable copies delivered in the previous week via iMovo as a BACS transfer to retailers’ accounts. 

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