Seasonal Change In Grocery Trade

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29791, 6 April 1962, Page 15

Seasonal Change In Grocery Trade

[From Our Grocery Correspondent)

Now that March is past, the grocery trade is expecting business to settle down. Many retailers refrained from replacing stocks last week, to facilitate March 31 stocktaking. Some replenishment of stocks has been evident this week. Easter, late this year, is now only a fortnight distant, and some demand for party foods and holiday lines can be expected.

After Easter winter weather can be expected Demand for winter lines should then be steady until the spring.

Canned Fruit.—The J Wattle Canneries have now findshed packing new season's canned fruit of peaches and pears. Earlier in the year the peach crop was in perfect condition, and it ’appeared, if these conditions lasted, that a record canning could be possible. However, as so often happens, adverse weather set in before the actual canning of fruit, causing the peaches to suffer heavy damage through brown rot. A recent statement from the cannery indicates that allocations will be necessary for slices, and orders will be reduced considerably. The firm also advises that it was unable to pack peach halves this year. Pears, however, have been a full pack in all sizes. The Watties fruit salad pack has also been reduced.

Price Increases,—The New

Zealand distributors for a wide range of lines, including disinfectants, cleansers and polishers, have advised the trade that, as from April I, a number of their lines have increased in price, leys Fluid 4oz and Boz will retail at 2s 3d and 3» 3d respectively, Scrubbs Ammonia 3s 3d. Clever Mary 2s 6d. Quickshine 3s. and Sprayfonna 4oz and Boz 2s 9d and 4s 9d Most of these increases are about 3d.

Dried Vine Fruits.—This year the vine fruit packers in Adelaide will have available currants and sultanas packed in cellophane packets instead of cartons. The pack ia a 16oz one. Tlte currants will be available in 2 and 3 crown, the sultanas in 5 and 6 crown. Prices will be the same as for ■ the cartons.

Ceylon Coconut: During the last few weeks the Ceylon coconut market has been firming, ano a short time ago it appeared to have readied its top level. However, the latest quotations show a further increase. and it is now approximately 17s per cwt above norma). This trend, if it lasts, will make buyers look to other markets, such as the Philippines. where much lower prices are quoted.

Canned Pineapple.—Prices are now being quoted for Queensland new season’s pineapple crop. The usual packs are again available and quotations are in advance of last year’s This year buyers are faced with less licences, and will perhaps await South African quotations for cheaper pineapple to make their licences go further.