July Was A Poor Month For Trade

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 16

July Was A Poor Month For Trade

(By Our Grocery Reporter) July has not been a very good month in the grocery trade and the situation has not been helped by the delay in shipments because of the British shipping strike.

However, ships from other countries are arriving and bringing rice, canned pineapple and canned fish. Canned Salmon.—Prices for Japanese salmon, now being quoted, are much higher than last year. This is as I forecast in this column earlier this year. The pack is not big and buyers are likely to be given quotas. Importers will have to take a year’s supply in one shipment so salmon may be plentiful for the first few months and then it could be scarce. Coconut Prices. — New prices quoted for Tongan coconut are lower. This brings it in line with coconut from Ceylon and the Philippines. Polish Pack.—Makers and distributors of Glossiit have replaced their cans with a new

plastic pack. It contains a new blend of wax and should give good results as a ‘‘no-rub” polish. The new 16oz pack 13 expected to retail at 5s 9d. Almonds.— New prices for Californian almonds are the same as those for last season. There has been an excellent crop. Prices for almonds could firm because there has been no carry-over of Portuguese and Spanish almonds. Mushrooms.— A North Island packer of mushrooms in butter sauce has not been able to cope with the demand. Fresh mushrooms are scarce at present so the packer has decided to restrict sales to the North Island. Pineapple. Quotations for South African pineapple are coming to hand. Supplies may not be good, but a full range has been listed. This pineapple could reach New Zealand late in September. Less South African pineapple is sold In New Zealand today than was sold several years ago. Cigarettes. Benson and Hedges super Virginia plain 20 are now on the market, selling at 2s 9d for 20. This follows the Introduction recently of a special filter tip.