WHSmith controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2025
North American forecasting and oversight failure
WHSmith disclosed that North American profit forecasts had been overstated. A subsequent review cited a target-driven culture and limited group oversight of regional finance processes, followed by the resignation of group chief executive Carl Cowling.
2023
Minimum-wage underpayment
The company was found to have underpaid workers because of an incorrect interpretation of uniform-related minimum-wage rules. WHSmith said the issue had been corrected and affected staff reimbursed.
2015
Airport VAT controversy
Airport retail practices involving boarding-pass scanning and VAT treatment attracted criticism from customers, media and politicians. WHSmith later committed to passing the relevant VAT reduction to qualifying customers.
2013
Abuse-themed e-books removed
WHSmith temporarily took its website offline after unacceptable e-book titles involving abuse appeared on the platform.
2009
Josef Fritzl Father's Day promotion
A single WHSmith branch mistakenly included a book about Josef Fritzl in a Father's Day gift promotion. The company apologized and said the listing was not a national campaign.