Difficulties getting stock from north

Press, 12 September 1983, Page 26

Difficulties getting stock from north

There had been a further deterioration in obtaining continuous and sufficient stocks from North Island manufacturers, said the chairman of GUS Wholesalers Co-operative Society, Ltd, Mr R. A. Wilkinson, in the annual report. GUS Wholesalers, which runs the Super Value super-

markets in the South Island, had mentioned the problems of receiving sufficient stocks from the North Island in its annual reports several times, but there has been no improvement. Present trading continued to reflect the difficulties imposed on the industry by the price and wagefreeze regulations, he said.

“However, there is a real rate of growth being recorded in turnover during the current year, and the second half should record an improving trend.” The 8.3 per cent growth in turnover to $119.6M in the year to March 31 was acceptable considering there had not been an increase in the food price index during the period.

A move to central warehousing had not been as rapid as the directors would have liked, but they were certain that this move would give the most efficient distribution for members, he said. Besides the computerised cash-register system installed at Northlands Super Value supermarket, two further systems were planned for company-owned supermarkets later this year. A number of GUS’s members were also installing similar equipment. The company was also expecting to be involved with bar-coded scanning in the near future, Mr Wilkinson said.

The total net profit fell 44.5 per cent to $210,850, and included a capital loss of $8767 ($11,154 previously) and minority interests of $6903 ($25,684).