Christmas Shopping Not Yet At Peak

Press, Volume C, Issue 29691, 8 December 1961, Page 25

Christmas Shopping Not Yet At Peak

(From Out Grocery Correspondent)

Christmas shopping is getting under way slowly, according to reports from most grocers. Indifferent and unseasonable weather has discouraged many shoppers. Grocers look for an improvement in Christmas and holiday lines when school holidays begin, and when the weather improves. Imported canned fruit and’ ftsh are now hard to get. A wide range of locally-pro-duced goods is available, including baking ingredients. Christmas hams. Christmaspacked biscuits, confectionery and cigarettes and Christmas crackers. Instant Coffee.—News from the Nestles factory that Nescafe is again available has been welcomed by all. Since import restrictions were imposed Nestles have built a factory to produce instant coffee, but the product has been unavailable for the last six months. In the meantime W r . Gregg and Company has endeavoured to keep the market supplied. but lately has been unable to cope with the demand. According to recent reports Greggs hope to step up allocations to the trade If both manufacturers can supply the quantities they expect to. the instant coffee shortage win shortly disappear Nescafe will sell at 4s 8d a 2oz tin—Bd off the old price. Small quantities of a 6oz pack, at 13s 3d are also available. Aiparagus.—New season's asparagus is now starting to arrive in the city. Although some

brands and varieties have been available, stocks have generally been light, even though more asparagus has been available this year than previously. The Wattles brand is now being ditributed. in the same sizes and grades. Prices are unchanged at 3s for the 9oz tins and 4s 2d for 16oz tips. 2s 4d for 16of Pieces and 3s lOd for 16oz. Fruit Juices.—W. Gregg and Company of Dunedin, recently marketed Raro orange juice. The product met a keen demand and the firm is now distributing the final stock Further supplies will not be available until the 1962 crop is packed. Stocks of pineapple juice are expected, but because of late ripening of crops there has been a delay I in production A pineapple crush will also be available Tea Prices.—Last week it was reported that the Ceylon tea market reached a low mark with many teas being cheaper than for some considerable time. Reports on the latest sales show a firming in prices on the over-all picture. These higher prices have now been noted for the last two sales It is unlikely there win be a reduction in prices of proprietary brands here as originally thought. S.A. Bank Rate Down.— The South African Bank rate was reduced from 5 per cent, to 4% per cent, yesterday.— (NXJ>JL> Wright Stephenson —Steady interim dividends of 3 per cent, ordinary and 21 per cent, preference are payable on January 31. ex January 19— (PA.)