Some Shortages For Christmas Shoppers

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 19

Some Shortages For Christmas Shoppers

(Sv Out Grocery Correspondent I

With Christmas only a few weeks away, speculation is starting as to what kind of Christmas-shopping season it will be. Import licensing will have a big effect this year, and it is likely that shortages of imported foods will be more noticeable now. Canned Fish is becoming scarce and the housewife does not have a verv large range from which to choose. Shrimps, anchovies, oysters and similar lines are still on the grocers' shelves, bet supplies of herrings, sardines, and particularly salmon in its various grades and sizes, are diminishing. Canned Fruit is a problem for most retailers, especially as local peaches and apricots are in short supply after a poor canning season. Import licences have been too small to bridge the gap. and shoppers will not find their usual selection of sizes and brands. Pineapple is not plentiful and It is expected to be in short supply. Fruit salad is npadilv. available, however. an<f so are pears in both 18oz and 30oz cans.

Dried Fruit is expected to be , plentiful, and from most reports , there are good stocks of currants. sultanas, raisins and : muscatels. Several New Zealand packers say that their . proprietary brands of mixed fruits will be sold out by Chrlst- ■ mas. Preserved ginger, cherries and peel are plentiful in some i brands and there should be enough to fill the demand. Mint Sauce: The makers of Boss mint sauce are packing > two new sizes this season. The ■ 12oz size will retail at 2s and , the 20oz at 3s. Their old size • retailed at Is 9d. Sweet Corn: Wattle’s have advised the trade that they have exhausted their stocks of lloz and 16oz crepmed sweet corn, and also their stocks of 16oz whole com. Only the Hoe size of whole corn is available now. and the new season’s supplies are not expected until late in February next year. Gelatine and Jellies: It has been uncertain for some time whether there would be sufficient supplies of gelatine and jellies, but the position has now improved. Gelatine is being imported from Australia and stocks should be readily available for the next few months.