Grocers Protest Against Direct Sales To Public

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29749, 16 February 1962, Page 10

Grocers Protest Against Direct Sales To Public

(New Zealand Press Association)

ROTORUA, Feb. 15.

Delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation at Wairakei are concerned with the growing practice of wholesalers and manufacturers in supplying goods direct to the consuming public. A remit to this effect, submitted by the South Canterbury Association, was passed today. Mr T. Quinn, on behalf of the branch, said it was felt that quite a bit of this was being carried out under the guise of "trade canteens" An example quoted was the Timaru watersiders' canteen. He said that members of this organisation handed their weekly orders to a local merchant., who made up the individual orders, and delivered them to the watersiders' hall. Government offices, in particular, bought tea and bis-

cuits from wholesalers, but ordered only small quantities of sugar from retailers The Coca Cola Company is to be asked to restrict its practice ot supplying direct to the public at wholesale prices. Members said that if this was allowed to continue other manufacturers would enter the same field. Mr K. Ward said that in the Waikato the company refused to make delivery to retailers from its warehouse, but delivered direct to the public with its own vans. A minimum delivery of six tins to any one customer is to be urged on the Biscuit Manufacturers’ Federation Members were told that this would protect the legitimate retailers as six tins of certain brands were beyond the capacity of certain grocers. Complaints had been received that the manufacturers were delivering one or two tins at a time to staff canteens.