THE representative body for newsagents has welcomed price rises by a trio of Scotland-based newspaper publishers, including the publisher of the Sunday Post newspaper.
Says the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, it “applauds” price increases by Scottish and Universal Newspapers, DC Thomson and Scottish Provincial Press, while also maintaining the sales terms for retailers.
In a statement issued by the NFRN, Scottish president, Abdul Qadar, is quoted, saying: “The NFRN applauds all these publishers for their actions. We are encouraged that in difficult trading conditions, they continue to recognise the needs of independent retailers and support us in this way.
“With some of the cover prices on the newspapers over or near to the £1 mark, it can only be in the interest of newsagents to stock these titles and push for extra sales.”
Scottish Universal Press announced cover price increases for all its titles, with retailers’ margins maintained at 25 per cent. It also announced that the titles would be heavily promoted throughout 2011 with reader competitions and added-value offers, prompting Mr Qadar to add: “I would urge all Scottish members to really get behind this activity and grow sales so we can all benefit.”
Meanwhile, DC Thomson has put up the price of the Sunday Post by 10p to £1.10; while Scottish Provincial Press titles have also seen cover prices increases, with retail margins maintained.
The latest price rises follows similar actions by Scotsman publishers, Johnston Press, plus by the publishers of the Daily Record and Scottish Daily Express newspapers.
