News publishers and wholesalers have agreed steps to improve delivery performance at a news summit organised by the Fed last week. 

Representatives from Smiths News, Menzies, News UK, Daily Mail Group and The Telegraph attended the meeting at News UK’s London HQ to discuss issues including home news delivery, falling retail margins and challenges with late deliveries. 

Speaking to Better Retailing following the meeting, Fed head of news Brian Murphy said an agreement was reached that Saturday delivery standards needed to improve, with Fed suggestions such as 2am pre-runs on supplements to be considered by the supply chain. 

We need to be better informed on newspaper delivery holdups, say retailers

Attendees also agreed greater sharing of results from publisher and wholesaler trials to improve delivery standards, and to find ways to prioritise and safeguard copies for subscriptions and delivery without jeopardising wider operations. 

On falling margins, retailer and Fed national president Jason Birks warned attendees that falling profitability from the newspaper category was putting its position in stores under threat from other categories. 

“The industry can no longer take its position in stores for granted,” he added. 

On home news delivery, agreements were made by parties to greater support agents looking to sell, buy or expand their rounds. 

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