Northern & Shell has halved the cover prices of its weekday, Saturday and Sunday editions of the Daily Star, a move that has dismayed the NFRN.
From Monday 5th October, the newspaper publisher is cutting the price of the Monday to Friday edition to 20p. The Saturday edition will go from 60p to 30p, while the cost of the Sunday edition drops from £1 to 50p.
The news comes a week after Menzies Distribution announced it was increasing its carriage charge by an average of 1.5%.
Responding, NFRN National President Ralph Patel said: “Northern & Shell is attempting to justify the move as a ‘very bold strategy to inject some overdue sales and excitement into the category’. Well, I disagree. In fact to me such a move can only be described as commercial suicide.
“Will independent newsagents be prepared to do double the work to get the same return as before? I don’t think so. Instead, I wouldn’t be surprised if members react by cutting back their Daily Star supplies or even removing the title from display. Based on the calls I’m getting from members it seems that the Stars won’t be coming out in many independent retailers’ stores from next week.”
NFRN Chief Executive Paul Baxter said he would be seeking urgent talks with Northern & Shell management in a bid to get them to think again.
