Winter Means Steadier Trade

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 15

Winter Means Steadier Trade

(B» Our Grocery Reporter) With the coming of winter the grocery trade can look forward to more positive trading. Generally the first four months of the year are unsettling due to the end of the long school holiday, payments such as rates, and income tax, Easter holidays, and the ending of many financial years.

The trade is reasonably buoyant and perhaps has not been as badly hit by 1967 budgets which were designed to reduce public spending as in other spheres of business Trading, however, is extremely keen and housewives are having the opportunity of shopping many specials which are being offered by grocers these days.

Mow Hot Meals.—Prepared Foods. Ltd. of Palmerston North, are Introducing for Immedlete release three new Milton House Meals. They are a new Idea In canned meals, using such Ingredients as pineapple, peppers, noodles and so forth. The varieties are pineapple-pork (Oriental). tomato-lamb (Mextcana), and pineapple veal (Hawaiian). The net weights are ISioz with a suggested retail price of 4Sc. Fruit Juice Price Increase. —

According to recent advice prices have Increased for orange julee and in future 1240 z cans will sell 3e dearer and 440 z cans Sc dearer. At the present time one of the most popular brands Is in short supply and stacks are not expected in the eity until early June.

Canned Apricot Price Down.— According to prices recently Issued by the distributers of Boxdale apricots, these are now retailing at lower prices. The new suggested retail prices are 27c for l*os and 45c for Nos and Ute decreases are respectively Sc and sc. In a world of advancing prices It is refreshing te and some products that are being reduced.

■lce.—A type of rice which Is bscomlng more popular is Americsn par boiled rice. This is produced hy soaking the grain while still in th* husk untM It reaches a certain moisture content, and then cooking it under pressure for

eight to is minute*. It is then dried end the husk remove* and is now ready for use. The main advantage of thie type of rice is that there is less chance of over-cooking. This permits it to be free growing in its whole grain form and takes out

ths bazar* »f becoming sticky an* lumpy during cooking. Some quantities b*vo been import**: the price is higher than tor ordinary rice.

Canned Flab.—The New Zealand canned fish industry has been improving over recent years and today good products are being marketed. Mapy packa are excellent in style and the contents of a high standard. A recent survey states that large quantities of pilchards are avaUblS in New Zealand waters and if these ceuid be canned SMO.OM a year would be saved tn Overseas funds. Pilchards are generally imported from South Africa an* ar* boo* valu* for money.