Retailers have criticised Menzies’ latest carriage charge hike, warning that it “threatens the future of small shops”.

Prinal Patel, of Raj’s Premier Stores on the Isle of Wight, told Better Retailing he categorically can’t afford the increase. “I’m no longer taking card payments for papers anymore, because once you add the card fees on top of the transaction, I’m hardly making anything.”

Rory O’Brien, of Papers Direct in Glasgow, stressed about the longevity of the category moving forward. “The category is becoming unviable when costs are going up and margins are coming down,” he said.

Read more: Newsquest announces regional newspaper price rises

Other retailers chimed in to agree that the category is facing real danger.

Vas Vekaria, of Kegs’N’Blades in Bolton, told Better Retailing: “I don’t know what they’re playing at. Young people aren’t buying newspapers, and as pensioners phase out of the market, no-one will be.”

From 2 April, Menzies customers will experience a maximum 4.7% increase in service charges.

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