FHM welcomes US supermarket ban

WITH US sales falling, Emap's lads' mag FHM received a little help this week from a couple of supermarket chains that have slapped a temporary ban on the publication.

April's cover, which features the naked derriere of hip hop star Vida Guerra, was deemed too spicy to be placed at American checkouts by managers at Kroger's and Ralph's supermarkets.

The news spread across the country, but FHM is happy with the ban.

It is losing a circulation battle with Maxim in the United States and reckons that the controversial cover - thanks to the publicity it generated - will drive April news-stand sales over the 500,000 mark - around 20% more than usual.

In the past year, FHM's news-stand sales have dropped by 5% and Maxim's by 17%. However, Maxim has total sales around twice those of FHM.