Groceries ‘balance’ sought

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 33

Groceries ‘balance’ sought

PA Wellington Grocery manufacturers have appealed to the news media to be “more balanced” in publishing information about the effects of the price freeze on grocery prices. The best measure of the effectiveness of the freeze was in the food price index, not in statistics relating to the numbers of complaints lodged, said the executive director of the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, Mr Ernest Newman.

Food prices had over all increased by 1.2 per cent since last July, he said. Most of the increase was a result of seasonal items such as fresh meat and fresh fruit which were exempt from the freeze. A considerable number of major non-exempt grocery items had actually reduced in price since the freeze began, said Mr Newman. “Out of 30 grocery products which the Statistics Department surveys right across the country every

month, 12 went down in price between July, 1982, and April, 4983. “These items were canned peaches, frozen peas, butter, margarine, cakes, porridge, flour, rice, breakfast cereals, jam, ice cream, and blocks of chocolate. “The fact that such a wide range of items could fall in price, even slightly over such a long period, shows the fierce competition which exists within the industry at manufacturing, wholesale, and retail

i levels,” he said. , “It also underlines the sincere commitment which I the grocery industry has to , making the freeze succeed.” , Mr Newman said that the Trade and Industry Depart- . I ment had told him that 274 complaints had been upheld i since the beginning of the [ freeze. This represented ’ about one complaint for , every 15 grocery stores, ■ which he said was a micro- ■ scopic figure when most , stores carried up to 5000 I different products.