News wholesaler’s carriage charge move shows ‘awareness of plight of independent retailers’
InPost Newstrade’s decision to freeze the carriage charge for around half of its customers in the UK has been widely welcomed.
Its decision to also apply a below-inflation rise to larger news stores shows it is listening to its retail customers and the Fed, the organisation’s National President has said.
Around half of their customers in Northern Ireland will either see their charge reduce or no change to it.
Around 1,300 Fed members with lower newspaper and magazine sales will benefit when the new carriage charge template takes effect from 4th April 2026.
Stores with larger news bills will see their charge rise by £1.99 a week. The total increase is capped at £4.49.
In a letter to its retail customers on 12th February, InPost Newstrade managing director Claire McErlean said: “InPost Newstrade is committed to delivering a consistently high‑quality service for all our newstrade partners.
“We continue to invest in strengthening our network, technology and improving delivery performance to support your business with reliable, efficient service every day.
“Our goal is to protect value for our retailers and that is why, in the face of rising costs and wider economic pressures, we have taken the decision this year to invest significantly in our CSC template.
“The approach has been designed to support value for retailers whilst prioritising service quality and the long-term resilience of the newstrade supply chain.”
The news wholesaler added that around 42% of its customers in Great Britain and around half of those in Northern Ireland will either see their charge reduce or no change. In the Republic of Ireland, this increases to around 90% of InPost Newstrade’s customer base.
Fed National President Hetal Patel said: “The Fed meets regularly with InPost Newstrade executives and we take every opportunity to remind them not only of the key role that independent retailers play in the news supply chain but also of the challenges that members face from rising costs and shop theft.
“From its actions, it is clear that InPost Newstrade is not just listening but taking on board the Fed’s concerns about the importance of small stores in their communities and their profitability, especially when it comes to selling news.
“While we welcome any developments that ensure the sustainability of the printed word, we still believe that an alternative to carriage charges must be explored.”
