The rules news wholesalers and publishers must adhere to when supplying retailers are currently under renegotiation.

Sources confirmed to Better Retailing work on a new Press Distribution Charter is underway and includes several suggested changes to the benefit of independent retailers.

Press Distribution Forum (PDF) members, including news and magazine publishers, distributors, news wholesalers and trade groups including the NFRN have held a series of meetings, with sources claiming there are up to 72 suggested changes to what is currently a 12-page document.

Reach circulation director and PDF chair John Howard confirmed the discussions were ongoing and despite the unexpected level of suggested changes, said he was “still hopeful” it may be finalised by the end of 2020.

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Suggested changes include updates to paper record-keeping and the official complaints process for stores let down by the supply chain.

The changes are understood to make it easier for retailers to claim money back due to late deliveries, missing credits and other issues.

Currently, stores seeking restitution must go through a three-stage complaints process.

On newspapers, a problem must occur three times in three weeks on weekday titles or three times in six weeks on weekends.

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Despite Smiths News and Menzies Distribution receiving 745 complaints from stores in September alone, so far in 2020 only one retailer has successfully received funds owed through the final tier of the official complaints system. The NFRN joined the PDF in 2019 to ensure its members were represented.

Commenting on the NFRN’s involvement in the ongoing charter negotiations, national president Stuart Reddish said: “It is important to remember that the charter is about minimum service expectations and this revision updates and modernises many of the aspects.

“It is now fit for purpose and reflects the marketplace today and importantly took the opportunity to review the complaints process, sensibly reducing the stages and simplifying certain areas that were often confusing retailers should they need to complain about poor service.”

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The changes reflect Menzies managing director and former PDF chair Grant Jordan’s promise to “improve retailer access and understanding of the Press Distribution Charter which will ensure the continued provision of an independent, transparent and properly accountable complaints process”.

Wholesalers involved in the meeting are understood to be interested in moving over to digital invoicing and records using their apps, rather than the current paper trail retailers receive in their tote boxes.

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