ANR Tells Blair Not to Listen to Publishers Claiming to Speak for Small Shops
04 Jul 2006
The Association of News Retailing (ANR) has written to the Prime Minister to explain the views of news and magazine retailers following reports of an event where Blair was lobbied by magazine editors claiming to speak for the small shop sector.
The PM heard from the Publisher lobby that the recent OFT decision would be devastating for the small shop sector ad that they claimed there was no voice for the independent retailer. ANR have set the record straight.
John Lennon, Managing Director said: “Publisher representatives cannot speak for the interests of independent magazine retailers. ANR is concerned that the views of the retailer are being misrepresented and so has responded to reported comments made to the Prime Minister by magazine editors and has set the record straight. Contrary to the publishers claims small shops want significant change in the existing magazine supply arrangements, because existing arrangements damage their interests and undermine their ability to compete.
“We made it clear to the PM that retailers’ welcome greater choice in the supply chain for magazines. Retailers of all sizes will benefit from a degree of competition that will drive up standards for the retail customer and the consumer.
“The Publishers’ attempt to use the current debate on the power of supermarkets to justify the status quo in independent magazine retailing is self interested and irresponsible. ANR is fully involved in the Competition Commission Inquiry into the power of the supermarkets in the grocery market and is making the case for action to promote fairer competition. ANR does not believe that the antidote to the power of the supermarkets is to allow the continuation of the existing supply arrangements, which are a bad deal for small shops.”
The PM heard from the Publisher lobby that the recent OFT decision would be devastating for the small shop sector ad that they claimed there was no voice for the independent retailer. ANR have set the record straight.
John Lennon, Managing Director said: “Publisher representatives cannot speak for the interests of independent magazine retailers. ANR is concerned that the views of the retailer are being misrepresented and so has responded to reported comments made to the Prime Minister by magazine editors and has set the record straight. Contrary to the publishers claims small shops want significant change in the existing magazine supply arrangements, because existing arrangements damage their interests and undermine their ability to compete.
“We made it clear to the PM that retailers’ welcome greater choice in the supply chain for magazines. Retailers of all sizes will benefit from a degree of competition that will drive up standards for the retail customer and the consumer.
“The Publishers’ attempt to use the current debate on the power of supermarkets to justify the status quo in independent magazine retailing is self interested and irresponsible. ANR is fully involved in the Competition Commission Inquiry into the power of the supermarkets in the grocery market and is making the case for action to promote fairer competition. ANR does not believe that the antidote to the power of the supermarkets is to allow the continuation of the existing supply arrangements, which are a bad deal for small shops.”