SMITHS NEWS TRADING LIMITED has completed the GBP-14 Diagnostic and is certified as a Customer of Choice. Unlike a Fast Payment Score, this is a full independent assessment across 14 practice areas -- payment behaviour is one input among several, not the whole picture. The review and heatmap below are the outcome of that assessment; no single number is issued, since this diagnostic didn't produce one.
How reliably and transparently the organisation handles payment itself — timing, dispute resolution, and clarity of process.
How easy the organisation is to work with day-to-day — onboarding, purchase orders, invoicing, and reducing risk to suppliers' invoices.
How suppliers are treated directly — access to escalate issues, relationship quality, and fairness of contract terms.
Whether leadership, learning and governance reinforce good supplier practice over time, rather than relying on one team or process.
Smiths News is the UK’s largest wholesaler of newspapers and magazines, delivering to around 55,000 retail outlets every morning from a national network of distribution centres. Our early-morning supply chain depends on long-term haulage, warehousing and technology partners — and prompt, predictable payment is how we keep those relationships strong.
Our live tenders and buying opportunities are published on our supplier portal — updated as they open and close, so you always see what is currently available.
View our open RFPs →We onboard logistics, warehousing and technology suppliers year-round. If you can support fast, reliable early-morning distribution, we’d like to hear from you.
Fast Payment Score, 0–100 — the line rising means faster, more reliable payment over time; falling means it's slipping.
| Year | Avg. days to pay | % paid late | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 16.5 | 1.5% | 80 |
| 2019 | 18 | 3.5% | 79 |
| 2020 | 18.5 | 7.5% | 78 |
| 2021 | 17 | 1.5% | 78 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0.5% | 78 |
| 2023 | 17 | 2.5% | 78 |
| 2024 | 18.5 | 1.5% | 77 |
| 2025 | 18 | 2.5% | 78 |
| 2026 | 19 | 2% | 77 |
% of invoices paid within 30 days, 31–60 days, and 60+ days, each year.
Fast Payment Score, derived from reported average days to pay and % invoices paid late. Not a Supplier Choice Index score.
Pursue full certification →