Smiths News broke the rules when it changed delivery times last year for retailers served by 10 depots, mostly in south-west England, according to the Press Distribution Forum (PDF) arbitrator.

Better Retailing understands the Fed recently challenged the decision by the wholesaler to move from using required delivery times to scheduled deliv­ery times.

At the time, Smiths News claimed the switch was due to publishers failing to get Saturday copies to the depots early enough, resulting in the wholesaler achieving poor delivery time compliance.

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The change cemented later official delivery times for many, though Better Retailing understands times for some stores have im­proved since the change.

PDF arbitrator Neil Robinson is understood to have agreed with the Fed’s claim that Smiths News failed to properly discuss and agree the changes before announc­ing them.

At a PDF meeting last week, publishers and wholesalers were ‘re­minded’ of their need to follow the charter.

The decision is ex­pected to make it more challenging for a whole­saler to repeat the change in other regions without first discussing it with the PDF.

The PDF will be overseen by veteran London newsagent Peter Wagg, named the new chair of the PDF last week. The body is tasked with ensuring a fairer newspaper and magazine supply chain.

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