ACS

ANR has written to the main publishers to call Menzies to account for their recent 2% Carriage Service Charge (CSC) increase which comes at a time when the wholesalers own preferred measure, the Freight Transport Association tables show a decline, in the year ending July 2009, in transport costs of -6.2%.

ANR Managing Director John Lennon said: “In their recent decision not to referrer the industry to the Competition Commission the OFT also recognised the danger of this type of unwarranted and unnecessary hike in retail costs, and they call publishers to be “more readily aware of changes in CSC’s” as high charges could lead retailers to exit the market.

“Are publishers going to ignore the OFT and stand by and watch retailers’ margins being further squeezed and their very existence being put under threat in order for wholesalers to increase their own profits? What exactly do publishers pay Menzies to do?”

Contacts:

John Lennon Managing Director, ANR
01252 515001 / 07812 144439

Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372 978

Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001

Notes to Editors:

1. The Association of News Retailing (ANR) was set up in 2001 as the news and magazines arm of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.