U.K. BUTTER EATING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29604, 29 August 1961, Page 14

U.K. BUTTER EATING

Rise For Six Months

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. Butter consumption in Britain during the first six months of 1961 has responded to the low prices and the high pressure advertising which has been carried out by the major butter supplying countries. Figures' supplied today by the New Zealand Dairy Products Marketing Commission showed that for the first six months of this year the average weekly consumption of butter in Britain from all sources was 8950 tons. The comparable figure in 1960 was 8120 tons, in 1959 8660 tons, and in 1958 8680 tons. Commenting on the figures, a commission spokesman said that the 1961 consumption figure was above the corresponding 1958 average, although in 1958 the price of New Zealand butter dropped at one stage to 206 s a hundredweight. This year the New Zealand price has held at 250 s since February. Margarine consumption had dropped as butter rose. Although it was not easy to draw clear-cut conclusions from consumption statistics it seemed obvious that the tremendous butter advertising drive must have played a big part in the higher figures this year. New Zealand, as the biggest individual butter supplier on the British market, had spent much more than any other country on this drive. Before 1961 was over the Dominion was expected to spend close to £BOO,OOO on the promotion of butter and cheese, he said.