J. WATTIE PLANS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30602, 19 November 1964, Page 21

J. WATTIE PLANS

, Organisation To Advance (N.Z. Press Association) HASTINGS, Nov. 18. After the Henry Jones interests have been integrated, directors and management will be able to organise the company’s future operations on a wider scale and for greater efficiency, Mr J. Wattie, managing-director and chairman of directors, said at the annual meeting of J. Wattie Canneries shareholders this afternoon.

“The increased production and turn-over will result in economies in the factories and considerable savings in the merchandising of the products. “Moreover, more items will be added to our range of products, including jam, marmalade, jellies, and canned apricots,” he said.

Discussing the company’s future, Mr Wattie said that from its beginning in 1934 its future had been carefully planned and its development had not taken place as a result of unexpected opportunities.

“In 1934, New Zealand was importing canned fruits and vegetables because local production was inadequate to meet the demand.

“Realising this situation, your board set out to encourage the planting of fruit trees and crops for processing, and at the same time made sure that the capacity of the factory was always ahead of the produce available.”

Mr Wattie said the company had become New Zealand’s largest producer of canned foods and the early policy which had guided the company to its present position continued as strongly as ever.