Wattie’s Move Is Talk Of Trade

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 19

Wattie’s Move Is Talk Of Trade

[By Out Grocery Reporter]

All this week the top talking point in the trade has been the J. Wattie take-over of the New Zealand interests of Henry Jones—the biggest thing that has ever happened in the food packing industry of this country.

The two biggest organisations concerned in the move are Kirkpatricks, and Thompson and Hills. Many people, when they first heard the news, thought the brands of these two firms —K and Oak—would disappear and all products would be marketed under the Wattie brand. However, in a statement made to the trade last week, Wattie chairman (Mr J. M. Wattie) cleared up any misunderstanding. He said: “The well known Wattie, Oak and K brands will continue to be produced up to their usual high standards from their own particular recipes. “The advertising of each of these highly respected and accepted brands will be increased considerably, and this, along with an intensified merchandising programme, will prove to be of mutual benefit to everyone in the retail and wholesale trade.” Latest news is that Thompson and Hills’ Napier plant is to be closed and that workers there will be offered jobs at Wattie’s Hastings cannery. Further news on what the take-over means is awaited with interest by the trade. Flour Packs. new packs will be on the market next week under the Buchanan brand: super sifted • cake flour and super sifted s'cone flour. Both are attractively- packed- and carry many recipes. Expected retail price for' the 31b packs is 2s 3d. Carpet Shampoo. DiSron’s catpet shampoo is to be dearer. The new price is 3s 3d —a rise of 3d. Preserving . Lines.— Preserving time 1 will bp here -soon and manufacturers are taking orders for.the coming season. Replacement lids are usually in

demand. Both dome and flat seals will be available, but will be 3d a pack dearer at 3s for 12. Screw bands are still the same price: 3s a dozen. Ceylon Tea. —An unexpected entry into the Ceylon tea market by Russian buyers could possibly push prices of medium teas to their highest levels for several years. In one week they bought 377,3771 b of tea and their cheque is expected to be well over £lm.

Biscuit Prices. Aulsebrook and Company have raised the price of their biscuits by Id a pound. Although no reason was given It seems likely that it is the result of an increase in the general wage order. A sugar price fall next year should turn the price of biscuits with a high sugar content in the consumers’ favour.

Toheroa Soup.— Toheroa soup is again available this season and one of the well-known brands, Tiki, is now available from a northern factory where this soup has not been produced for 20 years. This factory is now operative and fully equipped with modern machinery. Although popular on this market it would appear that some brands of toheroa soup are not selling particularly freely once demand is taken up.