Merger Of Canning Firms Of Interest To Grocers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 15

Merger Of Canning Firms Of Interest To Grocers

[By our Grocery Correspondent]

The proposed amalgamation of four firms in the canning and packing field, including two of the large North Island canners, has aroused wide interest in the wholesale and retail grocery trade.

Growers in some areas have already expressed anxiety lest the reduction of competition should be followed by lower □rices to growers. Distributors, □n the other hand, see the pos-

sibility of a powerful combine attempting to whittle away trade margins, or to raise prices to the public.The move came as a complete surprise to the trade. There is no doubt that amalgamation could bring about economies for the four firms concerned. If the benefits are shared with fruit growers, and with distributors and the public, the amalgamation will satisfy everyone.

Long Week-end As next Monday is the Queen’t Birthday, this is a long week-end and most housewives will havt long shopping lists today. Stock* of most lines are ample. May’s trading finished quietly and there is no indication oi any development likely to upset the usual pattern of trading this month. Token shipments now oeing distributed of imported biscuits, Jams, meat extracts and sauces are a mixed blessing foi the trade. Although they provide more variety in the shops, they impose a rationing responsibility on wholesalers and retailers. Apricots in Glass Jars.—Recentlj a large South African fruit cannery announced that it would .have apricots available in 13oz glass jars When this product was ottered li: 1958 it met with a good reception in the North Island. The retail price would be approximately 2s 8d pei jar, which is higher than a 160. □an. With Import licensing the way it is, it is doubtful whether large quantities would be imported. Australian Prunes.—An Australian prune packer has now been able to produce a tenderised prune. These are available for immediate delivery and are packed in an attractive 12oz polythene bag ant under vacuum. The product wat tried on the Australian market las; season and proved very popularThey will retail here about 2s 6d which is practically the same as th< Californian counter part. South African Groundnuts.—lnformation has now been receive! regarding prices and availability o South African peanuts. As expectec prices are slightly firmer. Both jO/70 counts are available and 70/8< ire expected to be ready for shipnent in June. Both varieties art readily available. Oyster Products.—The proprietor!, of a well-known brand of canned oysters and oyster soup have now started the new season s production of these two lines, having been ou. of stock for some time. Prices for these are the same as last year even though raw oysters are up. but nc ■ndication has been given as to the quantity of the pack. u Smoked Fish.—Before Christmas r Hastings canner started to pack New Zealand smoked fish a >J d ™ a ’ u ?‘ able to make a general release to ‘he whole of the New Zealand market. Some small quantities have been seen in Christchurch, but now sufficient quantities are availableto fulfil the existing deraal l d . I?}! oroduct is a good one and is quite ’n line with overseas products. However the price is not an advantageous one at 2s 8d fcr lloz compared vith 3s for 14oz. Nevertheless imoort control could have quite an affect on th’s line. Coconut.—Two weeks ago it «a noted that the Ceylon account market had steadied at a lower fipire -'fter a rather erratic period ana ’ng pTr cwt. J? e iS evln thmigh the market still remains Un ciMdl*n «»imon.-Slnce import ments. A small s ’j , P n ?r i n tJ, s o d to e re ♦he Waitemata and will help to re bread P mAnutert»r«! In SWHj! « “TbSTcSS-. -X.J! aTn the el-v an creamed varietv This P«K w, retail at is 5d each, which « zo cheaper than competitive packs

Drainage Board Lob^” T ?,! Christchurch Drainage Board s £250.000 Bromley sewerage loan was filled by Wednesday morning two days before the closing date An officer of the board said yesterday that 88.6 per cent, —an unusually high proportion of the loan moneys had been raised without recourse to the underwriters