Quiet Six Months For Grocery Trade Reviewed

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 17

Quiet Six Months For Grocery Trade Reviewed

(By our Grocery Correspondent!

Today marks the beginning of the second half of the year. The first half of the year was a quiet one in the trade and grocers are hoping the next six months will produce better trading results. Trading opened briskly in January but has been dull lately. Minor spurts to trade were provided by token imports (10 per cent, of 1956 imports) of quite a few delicacies. These enabled the buying public to catch glimpses of stuffed olives, high quality sauces, meat extracts and other exotic fare.

Sufficient import licences to supply the demand for some months are still held in respect of salmon, pineapple, diabetic foods, orange juice and crisp breads. Canned and dried fruits imported from overseas this year have mostly been available at lower prices than last year. Recently pineapple and prunes have shown signs of firming. Local prices have mainly been steady, except for canned foods, which have tended to rise. There is now a wider gap between imported and overseas prices than there has been for several years. Canned Potatoes.—From an Auckland canner who packs kumeras and new potatoes, advice has been received of a sharp price reduction. The 16oz and 20oz potatoes will retail at Is and la 5d respectively, and kumeras at la 4d and Is 9d, reductions of 7d and 8d for the potatoes and 8d and lOd for the kumeras At these prices, with the cost of fresh potatoes Increasing, they become a far more attractive proposition.

Australian Dried Vine Fruits.—This year the Australian Dried Fruit Board has decided not to Increase the prices for currants, sultanas and seeded raisins. Normally the prices increase at this time of the year by

£4 to £lO a ton (id to Id per lb). The board advises, though, that all orders received after July 19 for these fruits will be subject to availability. Canned Figs.—Reports show that the American canned figs imported by North Island merchants have met with a reasonable demand. These figs were tried two or three years ago on this market and met with little success. The popularity of figs has suffered an eclipse in recent years. Mutton Birds.—Although not a popular seller on the Christchurch market, mutton birds are arriving for the New Zealand market from the new season’s catch in the islands to the north of Tasmania. The two packs available are tins of 85 birds, and kegs containing 250-350 birds. The quality Is good and the retail price will be from 4s 6d-4s 9d a bird. Canned Oysters.—For some years both smoked and boiled oysters have been imported from Japan at attractive prices. This year the crop was normal and there was a heavy demand for smoked in preference to boiled. The boiled oysters were reduced in production by 80,000 cans, and smoked increased by 200,000 cans.

Denhard V ear .—Net profit of Denhard Bakeries, Ltd., Wellington, for the year to April 30, 1960, was £22,982, against £24,415 in 1959 add £24,198 in 1958, a drop of £1433 in the latest period. It is reached after provision of £6583 (£7332) for detaxatlon. Profit before tax Included £4598 (£4453) interest on investments.—(P.A.)