Palmer and Harvey, the UK’s largest wholesale distributor, is delighted to announce the launch of
Plus News – a new category management service for newspaper and magazines aimed at independent retailers.

Working in partnership with Lucid Direct Ltd, the news and magazine retail consultancy, Plus News is the latest initiative from Palmer and Harvey that will further the Company’s strategic aim of providing a more comprehensive convenience based offering to its independent retail customers. Launched following extensive consultation with customers, Plus News will provide retailers with a comprehensive toolkit that will effectively manage every aspect of the traditionally difficult news and magazine category.

Market data indicates that 16% of all customers who visit a store do so with the intention of buying a newspaper, with this figure rising to 37% in traditional CTN’s (Confectionery, news and tobacco outlets) with such customers visiting stores on average four times a week. Market research further showed that shoppers have a tendency to make incremental purchases in other categories such as drinks and confectionary. Given the consumer appetite and the opportunity for cross selling, providing a comprehensive news and magazines range would deliver tangible business benefits to independent retailers.

Harnessing the news category experience that Lucid Direct has developed over two decades of servicing major multiples and combining this with its own scale and expertise, Palmer and Harvey view Plus News as a key opportunity for independent retailers to bolster their offering in the face of rising competition from multiple grocers.

The Plus News partnership of Palmer and Harvey and Lucid Direct would provide independent customers with the same calibre and approach with which the news category is managed at major multiples. This would include expert advice on range including best in class planograms, improved availability, strong monthly promotional packages and the management of the entire category supply chain including reduced wastage and liaison with publishers.

In addition, Plus News members will benefit from dedicated helpline support, in depth monthly performance updates and cross category promotional initiatives.

Richard Hayhoe, Director of Trading at Palmer and Harvey, said:
“The launch of Plus News further underlines Palmer and Harvey’s commitment towards helping independent retailers remain competitive in an increasingly tough trading environment. News is traditionally regarded as a complex trading activity but we believe that Palmer and Harvey has scale with which to offer our members a compelling, competitive and efficient service that will help them provide greater choice to their customers and help drive sales growth within their businesses.”