‘Wine research insufficient’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33626, 30 August 1974, Page 10

‘Wine research insufficient’

A suggestion that the Apple and Pear Board should spend more time on research before entering into new ventures such as winemaking was made at the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation yesterday.

A remit from the Loburn growers said the board should spend more time on research into winemaking “to save further financial disasters with growers’ money.”

Mr C. M. Turner said the idea behind the remit was that the board should do its homework before starting production of wine. He believed the board would be justified in continuing its wine-making project but that research into marketing and timing be carried out first. The general manager of the board (Mr J. B. Cuby) said there had been a great deal of conjecture over what had happened to the winemaking project.

The board was disturbed by the results of the project and carried out a survey on why it had failed. No clearcut reason emerged and the board was unable to pinpoint an item which prevented sales. However, there had been a delay between the time research into the project was carried out and production, said Mr Cuby. The board should perhaps have done another survey before production finally got underway and it might have then found that the project should have been postponed. The statement by the Auditor-General that a survey had concluded that the advertising campaign had failed to inform consumers was incorrect, said Mr Cuby. “We wish to make it quite clear that the role of advertising in the lack of success of the wine venture was quite minimal,” said Mr Cuby. DOOR SALES Mr H. R. Sampson said it was reported in “The Press” that door sales at the board’s Nelson cannery had created a steady demand for certain lines of apple wine, and it was suggested that marketing could be resumed under a different system.

“Here at last is a glimmer of intelligence seeping through from some of the board’s staff and it is being realised that gate rates are the most profitable,” said Mr j Sampson. Mr I. Sun.de (Auckland) i said people would buy the jwine if it was the right price and the board should I not try to compete with 'established lines.