4-Day Week-Ends Present Problems For Grocers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 21

4-Day Week-Ends Present Problems For Grocers

(By our Grocery Correspondent)

Both Christmas and New Year week-ends this year will be observed as four-day holidays by most shopkeepers. The longer breaks will be welcomed by many retailers, but at the same time they pose problems. In particular, next week is bound to be difficult for all in the trade. Christmas stocks are still arriving into sorting sheds and warehouses. Some of these are bound to be late in reaching their final retail outlet, and the co-opera-tion of all concerned will be necessary to ensure that the widest possible range of goods is offered to the public next week. A noticeable trend in recent years has been the postponement of purchases of Christmas foodstuffs. Apparently, many housewives like to complete their buying of Christmas presents before they turn their thoughts to the Christmas dinner. • Although gro-

cers have been busy this week, most report that few of their customers have completed their Christmas purchases. Jam Making.—The jam making season is about to start, but for the poor weather raspberries would have been plentiful by now. From now on there should be a plentiful supply and most housewives like to get this jam made by Christmas. Jars for jams and for preserves have been delivered by the local glass factory. At this stage it appears that supplies are ample. Sugar is also In ready supply, and now the main unknown Is the price of fruit. This has a large bearing on the amount preserved and made into jams. The adverse weather could affect fruit crops and increase the prices. Breakfast Foods.—A Christchurch packer of wheaten products has advanced the price of porridge meals for both fine and course grades. The two packs affected are the 21b and 41b packs, which will retail at 2s lid and 5s 6d respectively, increases of Id and 2d respectively.

China Tea.—China tea Is not a big seller in New Zealand, but has a steady following.. Latest reports state that because of floods in China contracts booked for buds cannot be fulfilled. However, the shippers are able to supply some types of leaf. Detergent Price Increase.—A local packer of a detergent powder has found It necessary to raise his price for the first time in severs’ years. The new price Is 2s 9d ? packet, an increase of 3d. Grease Paper.—Recent report from Scandinavia advise that thprice of greaseproof paper has in creased by £3 per ton. Today, wit' the hiah cost of grease proof paps’ and the limited amount which cabe imported under licence, ever' increase means a reduction tn th' ouantity which can be imported to New Zealand.