Categories: Press Releases

Fed Responds to Newsprinters Holdings Limited Securing Major 10-Year Print and Distribution Agreement

The Fed has responded to the news of Newsprinters Holdings Limited securing a major 10-year print and distribution agreement with Reach Printing Services.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “While previous changes, including News UK and the Daily Mail’s move to combine its printing and primary distribution operations, have, on the whole, been very successful, we want to ensure that this latest development does not impact negatively in any way on our members’ businesses.

“For example, one vehicle delivering into a wholesale depot is of concern as is the knock-on effect on the news supply chain if a title is late.

“We will continue to press national newspaper editors to continue with their efforts to get off stone quicker and will ask that contingencies are robust and transparent to ensure all readers get their regular reads and that the importance of home news delivery is never undermined or put at risk. Come June, the Fed will be closely monitoring developments at Newsprinters.”

The full Newsprinters press release is reproduced below for reference:

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Newsprinters Holdings Limited Secures Major 10-Year Print and Distribution Agreement with Reach Printing Services
LONDON, UK, 10 February 2026

Newsprinters Holdings Limited today announced the signing of a major long-term agreement with Reach Printing Services to provide print and distribution solutions for titles currently produced at their Watford print facility.

The 10-year contract marks a significant milestone for Newsprinters and will help ensure the continued sustainability of printed newspapers in the UK

Under the terms of the agreement, production will transition from the Watford site to Newsprinters’ facility in Broxbourne. This transition is scheduled to commence in June, with full implementation expected by late July 2026.

Darren Barker, CEO of Newsprinters Holdings Limited, commented:
“This agreement represents another major milestone for Newsprinters and will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of UK print media in a challenging market.”

Newsprinters is committed to managing this transition with the utmost professionalism.

The provision of these services aligns with Newsprinters’ aim to offer long term certainty of print and distribution solutions to the UK print media industry.

News wholesaler’s carriage charge move shows it is aware of the plight of independent retailers

InPost Newstrade’s decision to freeze the carriage charge for around half of its customers in the UK and to 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 1,300 Fed members with lower newspaper and magazine sales will benefit when the new carriage charge template takes effect from April 4, 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 today (February 12), InPost Newtrade 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 per cent 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 per cent of InPost Newstrade’s customer base.

Fed National President Hetal Patel said: “The Fed meets regularly with InPost Newtrade 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.

He continued: “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.”

The Fed meets with Shadow Cabinet Member Richard Holden MP in Essex

Difficult trading conditions and concerns about rising costs, especially higher business rates, were shared by Essex retailer Mayur Patel when he met with Richard Holden,  Conservative MP for Billericay and Basildon, at Rina News in Billericay on Friday, February 6.

During the meeting, Mr Patel, a member of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed), said that he was now employing one less part-time staff member than a few years ago and that he was hit by higher taxes – particularly following the disappointing government Budget for small retailers which has seen many shops facing higher business rates bills – as well as rising bills from the high energy use he requires to keep his refrigeration units running 24 hours a day.

Mr Holden, a former Cabinet minister and current shadow transport secretary, said: “It was good to discuss the many positive things Mayur provides to the local community, from a staggering range of convenience products to parcels, home newspaper delivery services, and the role his shop provided for local people during the lockdown.

“It is right that we need to see tougher action on rogue traders – something that was raised and that I’ll mention when I meet with Trading Standards soon. I was also concerned to hear about the impact of rising costs – especially national insurance tax and business rates – which are making it more difficult for Mr Patel to enhance his business and ultimately to employ more staff. This is something that many small businesses have raised with me recently. I look forward to meeting with Mayur and using his shops again in the future!”

Mr Patel said: “I was very grateful for Richard’s visit and I was impressed by his knowledge of the challenges I face as a small business owner. I look forward to meeting him again and he is welcome to visit me at this business or at my second shop, Anna’s News near Billericay Station, any time in the future.”

The Fed meets Sir Gavin Williamson MP in Staffordshire

Former Government Minister and Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge MP Sir Gavin Williamson met with Narinder Randhawa at his business in Great Haywood in Staffordshire on Friday 30th January, where they discussed concerns about theft, business rates and other rising costs.

Mr Randhawa spoke about his decades of experience in retail, including 40-years as a Fed member, including serving as National President between 2021-2022 and continued service at a national level for the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed).

However, he was frank about the challenges caused by rising costs, including the recent budget which the Government failed to support small retailers with relief from rising business rate bills.

Sir Gavin had recently raised the matter of rising Business rate bills in Parliament, brought about by the three-yearly valuation rise, loss in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief and also a disappointing cut of the multiplier paid by small retailers. He said: “It was a really useful and wide-ranging discussion with Narinder and Ajay Singh who runs the business with him. We discussed the pressure caused by rising rate bills, as well as other pressures like the National Insurance Contribution rise which took effect last year as well as new regulations coming down the line from the Employment Rights Bill”.

“Clearly the shop is at the heart of the community in Great Haywood and offers a range of vital services from its Post Office, to a fully range of convenience products – but it is clear that for shops like this to survive in the future the Government has more to do. I will continue to work with the Fed as an opposition MP to ensure the concerns of their members like Narinder and Ajay are heard in Parliament.”

Mr Randhawa said: “I was pleased to meet Sir Gavin Williamson and discuss very frankly how worrying the business environment is. My business has been hit by rising costs and occasional incidents of retail crime, causing thousands of pounds of damage. I am glad Sir Gavin listened – I look forward to his support in the future.”

Independent retailers react as MUP to increase in Wales from October

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has reacted to the news of a 30 per cent lift in the minimum unit price for alcohol that has just been confirmed by the Welsh government. This means the cost of alcohol will rise from 50p to 65p per unit from October 2026. A can of beer currently available for £1 will have a price of £1.30 or more.

Clive Birkby, Fed President in Wales, said: “The Fed has raised no objection to this change which mirrors that in Scotland. In the past, supermarkets have sold alcohol as super cheap loss leading products – something which is damaging to small shops and also to those advocating responsible consumption.

“We have highlighted concerns, though, for how this policy will impact our members who are close to the border with England, given that England does not have MUP. We will continue to monitor the impact of this policy change and what it might do to reduce problem drinking and the health and social impact of that – though we will repeat our call for the Welsh and Westminster governments to provide more information about responsible drinking through better education.”

MUP was introduced in Wales back in 2020. In September 2025, the Fed contributed to the government consultation on this increase, asking for clear communication of the measures for retailers, particularly as MUP does not apply in England.

Announcing the increase, the minister for mental health and wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: “Cheap, high-strength alcohol disproportionately affects hazardous and harmful drinkers. The evidence is clear – minimum unit pricing works. We have taken a decision which will save lives and help protect many people from the harms caused by drinking too much alcohol.”

The Welsh Conservatives have criticised the move because of its impact on consumers through higher prices.

Fed celebrates successful return of Scottish trade show after a decade

The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has hailed the successful return of a Scottish trade show for the first time in more than 10 years, following a well-attended event in Edinburgh at the end of January.

Held on Thursday, January 29 at Patina in Edinburgh Park, the trade show brought together close to 100 independent retailers from across Scotland, alongside a strong mix of national and local suppliers. The event marked a significant milestone for the Scotland district and demonstrated renewed appetite for face-to-face engagement and district-led activity.

Organised by Scotland district vice president Uthay Soundarajan, the trade show was open to both Fed members and non-members, offering retailers the chance to meet suppliers, discuss trading challenges, and access exclusive deals and incentives.

A wide range of suppliers supported the event, reflecting the diversity of the convenience sector. Those in attendance included Philip Morris, World of Sweets, Swizzels, Red Bull, Grenade and Au Vodka, alongside specialist and service providers such as PayPoint, Worldpay, PU Tech, InPost and Trovr, with the latter giving retailers the opportunity to discuss Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) solutions. A number of local suppliers also took part, helping to reinforce the event’s strong Scottish focus.

National President Hetal Patel and national vice president Hemanshu Patel were both in attendance, spending time speaking directly with retailers and suppliers throughout the day.

Scotland district president Hussan Lal described the event as a major step forward for the district.
“It’s a significant moment to see a Fed trade show back in Scotland after such a long gap,” he said. “The turnout showed there is real demand for this kind of event, and it was encouraging to see so many retailers and suppliers under one roof.”

Vice president Uthay Soundarajan said the success of the day had exceeded expectations: “For our first event in 10 years it was very successful,” he said. “Of course, we want to build on this in the future, host events in different locations each year and bring even more eyes to what the Fed is doing in Scotland. Both the National President and Vice President had a great day meeting members and suppliers, which really added to the atmosphere.”

For further information, please contact: ben.storey@nfrn.org.uk

Fed welcomes work of National Trading Standards

The Fed has welcomed the work of National Trading Standards to tackle illicit tobacco in direct partnership with HMRC – and is continuing its call for central government to provide greater priority and resourcing for trading standards across the UK.

It was recently announced that the new enforcement approach which had taken effect since July 2023 as part of Operation CeCe between National Trading Standards (NTS), local authority Trading Standards, Scottish Trading Standards Services and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had led to £1.4million in civil penalties being issued against rogue traders and individuals selling illegal tobacco products.

National Trading Standards had notified that retailers who sell illicit tobacco risk being removed from the Tobacco Track and Trace (TT&T) system which is required to be part of the legitimate UK tobacco market as well as being fined up to £10,000.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “The Fed knows how much damage rogue trade and illicit tobacco sales do to undermine the work of legitimate independent retailers – and we agree with National Trading Standards that Illicit tobacco undermines legitimate businesses by undercutting the vast majority of retailers who do the right thing, whilst reducing the government’s tax base and fuelling other crimes.

“Ahead of the last Budget, and ahead of the upcoming Scottish and Welsh elections, we have called on the government to give greater resources to trading standards and will follow the work of Operation CeCe with interest.”

Lord Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Illegal tobacco harms communities, undermines legitimate retailers and fuels wider criminal activity. The vast majority of retailers play by the rules. These sanctions demonstrate that we are taking decisive action against those who don’t.”

Action needed now to curb shoplifting, say independent retailers

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has welcomed the government’s announcement of measures to crack down on retail crime but says more needs to be done – and quickly.

While the latest crime figures show that the increase in shoplifting has slowed compared to last year, the worrying aspect for independent retailers is the fact that it is still going up.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed this week that the number of reported incidents of shoplifting between September 2024 and September 2025 increased by 5 per cent to 519,381, compared with the previous year’s 492,660 offences, which was an increase of 20 per cent.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “While it would seem from these latest statistics that shoplifting is levelling off a bit, the fact remains that is still increasing.

“In any case, the ONS is talking about reported crime, which everyone knows is only part of the true picture. We know many of our members don’t always report every incident.”

The Fed has welcomed this week’s Home Office announcement of the Police Reform White Paper and action to make police presence more visible as part of the Neighbourhood Police Guarantee.

The federation also repeated calls for a targeted £6,500 grant scheme to improve security in smaller stores through CCTV and facial recognition.

Mr Patel added: “Which ever way you look at it, shoplifting and other retail crime continues to blight the lives of honest, law abiding shopkeepers and their staff.

“The government’s intentions are to be applauded, and we sincerely hope that the reforms being proposed by the Home Office will have a positive effect on reducing retail crime.”

Give us the tools to help fight retail crime, say independent shop owners

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has repeated calls for government grants to improve security in smaller stores, following the announcement of investment in facial recognition technology for police forces.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “Ever since the number of incidents of shoplifting and other retail crime began to soar, we have lobbied politicians and the government to provide a targeted £6,500 grant scheme to improve security in smaller stores through CCTV and facial recognition.

“Following this latest initiative to give police forces hi-tech tools to tackle crime, now is the perfect time to help independent retailers boost their in-store security and dovetail with the police to deter criminals and catch repeat offenders.”

The Fed has also welcomed the Home Office’s announcement of the Police Reform White Paper and action to make police presence more visible as part of the Neighbourhood Police Guarantee.

Under the reforms, response officers will be expected to reach the scene of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas, and forces will be expected to answer 999 phone calls within 10 seconds.

Mr Patel said: “For far too long we have raised the issue of a lack of police presence in local neighbourhoods and poor response times. As a result, many of our members have been reluctant to report every incident of shoplifting and abuse”

“Retail crime has reached epidemic proportions in recent years and is up 72 per cent compared to 2010 levels according to the Government’s own data.

“However, this does not paint the true picture. More than 70 per cent of Fed members reported direct experience of retail crime in the previous year, when last surveyed.

“The reforms announced by the government this week are to be applauded. Our members’ stores are more than just shops; they are hubs of local communities and must be protected.”

Independent retailers welcome funding for retail crime taskforce in Scottish budget

News that the £3 million funding for Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce is being maintained has been welcomed by independent retailers.

Members of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) in Scotland have also cautiously welcomed some support for small retail businesses on Non-Domestic Rates through the Small Business Scheme, which was also announced in yesterday’s Scottish budget (Tuesday, January 13).

Hussan Lal, the Fed’s Scottish President, said: “We are currently assessing the details of the Scottish Budget and there is some encouraging news. Having engaged with Shona Robison and the SNP government ahead of the Budget, we are especially pleased the Retail Crime Taskforce is being retained.  This is something that we have been lobbying for as we have been encouraged by the impact the Force has made in just a few months.

“However, this remains a challenging time for retailers in Scotland because of rising retail crime, high costs and new regulations, along with uncertainty about what will follow from the Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament after May. In addition, we continue to monitor Westminster’s political role in Scotland.

“The Fed will continue to call for the Scottish government to back small independent retailers like Fed members through action to reduce retail crime – such as through targeted security grants and to control and reduce business rates bills – and further work to protect small shops after the election.”