UK DIY News
Retailers taking longer to pay suppliers
Britain’s leading retailers are taking longer to pay their suppliers, emphasising the squeeze on small companies from a toughening of payment terms.
According to an analysis of the top 25 listed retailers by The Telegraph, the number of days it took to pay suppliers grew from an average of 40 to 42 in 2013.
The disclosure of the slight increase in payment days follows the publication of letters from Debenhams, Laura Ashley and John Lewis over the last year that showed the retailers demanding discounts from their suppliers.
It means that small companies are battling with slower repayments and tougher terms from their leading customers just as the economy starts to recover and they try to grow.
The analysis of payment terms is based on the creditor payment days reported by retailers in their annual report for 2013. Some retailers provide their average creditor days while others give a figure for payment outstanding at the end of their financial year.
The research shows that eight retailers extended their payment days, with Topps Tiles, Asos, Home Retail Group and Mothercare the worst offenders.
In contrast, ten retailers cut the number of days it took to pay creditors, although this was by just one or two days with the exception of Mulberry, whose payment days reduced by five.
Trade creditor days remained the same in 2013 as 2012 for four retailers, while Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Burberry did not disclose the information.
The company that paid suppliers the fastest was Mulberry, whose average payment time was just 15 days. Marks & Spencer was second with trade creditor days of 24, based on the ratio of company trade creditors at the end of the year to the amounts invoiced during the year by trade creditors.
In contrast, Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos and Homebase, increased trade creditor days by nine from 51 to 60 says, while Asos and Topps Tiles grew from 43 in 2012 to 59 in 2013. Debenhams, which issued a profits warning after a disappointing Christmas, took 60 days to pay suppliers, more than twice as long as M&S.
A spokesman for Home Retail said: “Our suppliers are very important to us. Payment is made in accordance with pre-agreed terms and reflect the markets in which we and our suppliers operate.”
Topps Tiles said: “There has been no policy of extending supplier payment terms this year.”
In a letter to suppliers before Christmas, Debenhams said it was seeking a one-off fee from suppliers worth 2.5pc of its outstanding payments as of Tuesday. It will also apply a 2.5pc discount to orders it has agreed with suppliers.
The company told its suppliers that the discounts were a “contribution” to the retailer’s investment in new store openings and the £25m revamp of its flagship Oxford Street store.
In the letter, Mr Herrick wrote: “As we will mutually benefit from the growth of Debenhams we are now seeking a contribution from our suppliers to support our commitment to ongoing investment.”
Earlier in 2013, John Lewis said suppliers would be subjected to a rebate of up to 5.25pc on annual sales because it needs “all parties to participate in showing their ongoing commitment and support”.
Laura Ashley was also accused of squeezing suppliers after asking for suppliers to pay back 10pc of the value of orders it has already agreed with them.
Source : Graham Ruddick - The Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10566948/Biggest-retailers-taking-longer-to-pay-suppliers.html
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