Last Invoices In £. s. d.

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 14

Last Invoices In £. s. d.

(By Our Grocery Reporter)

This is the last day in June and for many in the grocery trade, it will be the last day that prices are costed in £ s d.

Most grocery distributors will be invoicing retailers as from Monday in dollars and cents and converting the total invoice to £ s. d. until Monday, July 10, when all totals will be in $ and c. Already some merchants have been invoicing in $ and c and at this stage it would appear that the changeover will run reasonably smoothly from wholesale to retail.

The Budget last week had little effect on the trade, but

one thing worrying many traders is the reduction of 10 per cent on overdrafts. This means a reduction in stocks and tighter credit precautions which could have a retarding effect on trade.

Rice.—To add to the rice problem because of the lack of import licences, there has been a price increase, in the United States, where most of our long grain rice comes from, prices increased by about £5 per ton. Australian prices are considerably lower but they can only offer short grained rice. Small quantities of rice are arriving In Lyttelton on the Springbank from America and should help to relieve the shortage in the meantime. However, further supplies are expected in July.

New Jam Pack.— T. J. Edmonds, of Christchurch, is now entering the jam market and shortly will have available the squeeze pack. This squeeze pack is a plastic container with a nozzle and will distribute jam without the aid of knife or spoon. It holds 12oz of jam. Blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry will be the first varieties available. This plastic squeeze container has a suggested retail price of 4s 2d or 42c.

Australian Prunes.— ln an effort to get more of the New Zealand market, Australian prune processors' are offering an incentive, a discount for bulk buyers. For some time now Californian prunes have dominated the market and this new move by Australia will be an endeavour to regain some ground. At one time Australian prunes were practically the only prune available here.

Salmon.— New Zealand buyers are anxiously awaiting the catch prospects and prices for salmon, both from Canada and Japan. So far there is not much to go on, but it is thought that prices will not be reduced. Prior to last season, Japanese prices were generally lower than Canadian, but buyers acting on this presumption last year were misled. When prices were finally quoted, Canadian salmon was cheaper and this would perhaps be the first time on record. Salmon at the present time is in short supply and importers have been holding back until new prices are quoted.