Imports Are Now Arriving

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 15

Imports Are Now Arriving

<Bu Our Grocery Reporter.)

First imports of the new licensing season ! are now arriving at Lyttelton and in the shipments are canned fish, dried fruits and canned ' pineapple—all of which are in short supply.

Distributors will be busy for the next few weeks delivering the newly imported goods and this should help give traders a boost in turni over. At present there is a delay in the delivery of goods from Lyttelton to Christchurch and it is hoped this will not get worse as more shipments ar- ' rive. Razor Blades.— Now that razor blaOes are decontrolled, the first of numerous blades are now appearing in shops. It will be interesting to note public reaction to the heavy advertising campaigns planned. A Japanese blade at present appears to be quite cheap, retailing at 3s 6d for five against 5s for five for most other brands. Dried Apricots.— Because of I the uncertainty that some grades | of Australian apricots may be unavailable, buyers have been looking to other sources. Recent-

ly, quotations came In for Spanish apricots and these, although of a lower grade, are extremely good buying. They are available in both bulk and packets and could retail about 3s 8d per lb. Prunes.— Sales of prunes have been rising and in recent years prune packs in pliofilm bags containing moist pack and ten derised varieties have appeared. This season, a plastic cup containing 12oz of California prunes will be available. Because these have already proved popular for packing Caffiforncan dates, it is quite possible that there will be a ready sale for this new prune pack. Bird Seed.— Arthur Yates and Company Ltd. is now replacing its old "Billy Peach" brand of bird seed in lib bags with an attractive lib carton. This new pack wi'l.l contain iodine, a vital element previously lacking in cage bird's diet and causing sickness to birds. Australian Dried Vina Fruits.— With, the lifting of import controls form dried fruit into New Zealand, buyers have had an opportunity to purchase a wider variety of fruits and explore more markets. The Australian Dried Fruits Control Board has supplied ' New Zealand with much of Its vine fruit for many years and regards this market as one of its better ones. The board knows that Californian oackers are trying to gain a larger foothold here by such methods as putting consignment stocks in New Zealand main ports for Caliiforndan Thompson’s seedless raisins and the board has now Introduced a fall clause to protect New Zealand buyers. Contract prices for new season's fruits may be reduced to meet any price reduction in California before shipment of goods to New Zealand. Dried Pineapple-— Some time ago dried slices and pieces of pineapple were Imported from Formosa and proved popular. Now further stocks are available and the market appears to be widening. Not only i« the pineapple being used as its canned counterpart but it ly also being used as a, confection.