Short Weeks For Trade At Easter

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31029, 7 April 1966, Page 21

Short Weeks For Trade At Easter

[By Our Grocery Reporter]

Easter these days usually means little more to grocers than two short trading weeks: this week when shops are closed for Good Friday and on Monday when the traditional Easter holiday is observed.

In years gone by Easter I used to have quite an effect on the grocery trade, but these days there is little to distinguish it. Canned fish has always been popular about now, but with strict import control there is not a very wide choice. Locally-canned fish is not so popular. This week’s cold spell shows that winter is on the way, and cold-weather lines will soon be on the grocer’s shelves. Meat Concentrate. Popular many years ago, Oxo cubes have almost disappeared from grocers' shelves because of import restrictions. However, token licences have now been issued and small quantites are available. Vegetable Prices. Surprise sliced beans, carrots and peas will retail for less. Sliced beans will cost about 2s 6d — a reduction of 2d—and carrots and peas will sell at a suggested 2s 3d, a decrease of id. Dates.— Dromedary dates have been scarce recently, perhaps because of packaging problems. A new 16oz pack, just issued, is expected to cost about 2s 9d. New Salt Pack. — Recently another English salt pack was released on Christchurch in a 31b plastic drum. This size is expected to sell for about 2s lid, which is reasonable. Breakfast Food.— Two manufacturers of breakfast foods have increased prices for such items as Weetbix, Granose, and Vitabrits. The Increase, from April 1, is about id for 12oz and 2d for 240 z. Canned Tomatoes. — Because of bad weather during cropping. J. Wattie Canneries will now have only a nominal pack of whole tomatoes to deliver. Until canning, crops were satisfactory and a good pack was ex-

pected in all sizes. However, late rain and humidity caused one variety, intended for 20oz cans, to be ploughed in. Rice.— Rice prices are still rising, because of a world shortage and the Indian famine. Thailand and United States rice is more expensive, the latter because of a reduced export rebate, which controls United States market prices. Australian Dried Vine Fruits. —New prices of Australian sultanas. currants and raisins are now’ available. Currants are up at about £lO a ton. Sultanas and raisins remain unchanged. Currants are scarce. Sultanas will be mainly in four crown and three crown, -with some five and six crown available, the latter available only to their usual buyers. Packing of raisins is about to begin and stocks should be plentiful.