GROCERS MEET

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 17

GROCERS MEET

Convention Of I.G.A.

Grocers from all over New Zealand assembled in Christchurch at the week-end for the second merchandising convention of the Independent Grocers' Allitnce. Nearly 450 grocers, manufacturers’ > representatives, wives and friends gathered for the two-day convention. Tone of tinned, bottled and wrapped foodstuffs, seeds, weedkillers, brooms, mops, soaps and detergents were stacked in modem display stands around the walls of the hall. Refrigerators and deep freezing units were packed with frozen foods and the roof carried advertising slogans and display cards. Cash registers, accounting machines, and other mechanical devices were al! laid out for the grocers to inspect.

Eight addresses and a fashion display occurred most of Saturday. On Sunday the visitors toured grocery stores in Christchurch and attended the annual picnic at the Riccarton racecourse.

Opening the convention, the chairman of directors of T.G.A. (Mr L. Hawkins) said that the business of every grocer was to ensure that his operating costs were as low as possible, enabling him to give a complete service to the consumer without falling in the face of strong competition. The convention, said Mr Hawkins, was designed to bring to its members the very latest ideas in merchandising, advertising, and trade practices.