GROCERY BUSINESS STILL QUIET IN CITY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 14

GROCERY BUSINESS STILL QUIET IN CITY

Trade has been quiet since Christmas, and is unlikely to get I back into full swing until the school holidays are over. The ’ recent hot weather has brought I an increased demand for fruit extracts, jellies and ice cream l bases. There is now a steady 1 seasonal demand for jam and | pickle-making, and preserving re- ’ quirements. Most new season’s fruits are now available, and the i preserving season is in full swing. > Just before Christmas jars were ’ in short supply, because of late deliveries from glass factories, but the position is easier now. Sugar is in good supply, and- grocers 1 have been building up stocks to cope with the rush. Import control has put a brand of pectin, I used for jam setting, off the mar* I ket, but, other than that, stocks J are plentiful for all requirements. Canned Apricots.—This year there is no provision for the importation ‘ of canned apricots. The trade will I have to rely on New Zealand cani ners for requirements. In pastyears local supplies have been far from adequate and stocks have come mainly from Australia and South Africa. One Otago canner indicated ’ recently that the apricpt crop is not ' as good as last year. This means less fruit will be available for cani ning. Baking manufacturer | > of a ' brand of baking powder hds increased the price of . his product. The rise results from ; a change in packaging and higher i coirta' of production. The 51b tin is ; 3d dearer and now costs 14s Bd, the ; 14Ok tin is Id dearer at 2s lid, and : the 4oz tin at Is o’/ 2 d in y 2 d more. New Jelly Flavour.—Blackberry has • been added to the flavours of a ; brand of jelly marketed by a Dunedin firm. This should find immedi-

ate popularity. An original form of advertising will mark the release of the new flavoured jelly on the market. It will sell at lid a packet, the same price as other jellies of the same brand. Steel Wool Pads.—An Auckland firm is now turning out soap-im-pregnated steel wool pads, and these should be on the market soon. Similar pads have been imported from England for the last few years and were widely popular. Import cuts have restricted supplies. The local-ly-made pads will sell for Is 6d—the same price as the imported pads. ■ Tomato Juice.—Sales of tomato juice have increased considerably over the last year, mainly because of the cut in supplies of citrus fruit juices. Distributors are at present waiting for fresh, stocks of tomato juice. There has been little information about the tomato crop, but even if whole tomatoes are in short supply, there should be "ample supplies of juice for the next 12 months. Olive Oil.—A -shipment of olive oil recently arrived from Spain. This has eased the olive oil supply position, which had become rather difficult. The market has been firming and prices will be slightly higher. Iranian Apricots.—Another shipment of Iranian dried apricots arrived'' recently and should ease the supply position. Popular varieties from Australia and California have been in short supply for the last 12 months. Some Spanish apricots were' imported, but this market was also short. Cotton Cloth Exports.—For the first time in two centuries, Lancashire’s exports of cotton cloth over a full year have fallen below the level of imports, the Board of Trade announces. Exports last year totalled 384,078,000 yards, while imports reach ed 386,763,000 yards.—(Reuter.)