PICKLING INGREDIENTS IN HEAVY DEMAND

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 15

PICKLING INGREDIENTS IN HEAVY DEMAND

- (By Our Grocery Correspondent)

A feature of the grocery trade n the lest week has been the 'eneral increase in the demand of all commodities required for he pickling season. The biggest lemahd has been for preserving ars. Generally both retailers and nerchan& build up their supplies >efore the start of the season, jut this year there was a large ?arry-over, and most merchants nought sparingly. Prices in general have been steady this week, and the. upward trend appears to have slowed down. Business for the remainder of the month can be expected to be light, for wholesalers and retailers, as many firms are keeping stocks low for the annual balance on March 31. Canned Fruits.—Merchants have been awaiting news from local canners regarding the amount of fruit which will be canned this season. Today this has a large bearing on the availability of supplies to housewives, as .import restrictions . have caused a serious curtailment of imported fruits. So far, one canner from Hastings has notified the trade that a reduction can be expected in orders for 16oz halves of canned pears. This reduction is approximately half. The result of the canned peach crop will not be known until the end of the month. Toothpaste Price Increases.—A new price has been set by the marketers of a well-known, toothpaste. In future personal size ’ will retail a 1 Is Bd, large 2s 9d, economy size 3s lOd. The increases are Id, 2d, and 3d. New Toilet Roll.—A southerr paper mill will shortly be producing a toilet roll to retail at Bd. Although it is slightly lighter, it compares more than favourably in price and should meet with a reasonable

esponse. Fruit Salts.—A new price will be charged for a leading brand of fruit salts. This will be 3s 3d for the small bottle and 5s 3d for the large.

Prunes.—Prospects for prunes from Australia at the present time are not good. In some cases packers have found it necessary to reduce the orders on hand. Quotations ' are being received from South Africa, and merchants are booking business in this direction, as prices are competitive. The main source of supply for the last year or. two has been California, but this market is not available in the meantime .owing to Import restrictions. Desiccated latest market reports from Ceylon show I that thia commodity has eased. Dur- I ing the last two weeks the price I has decreased by approximately w I cwt. The new price is now in line II with the usual quotations, and m I effect the normal level has been reached.