MARKETING DANISH BUTTER IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 20 August 1923, Page 102

MARKETING DANISH BUTTER IN BRITAIN.

In reply to a question in the House, the Minister of Agriculture made the following brief statement regarding the marketing of Danish butter in Britain, with special reference to the Copenhagen quotation : "There are about fourteen hundred dairy factories in operation in Denmark. A few of these sell their produce weekly to firms in Great Britain. Another part is bought from the dairies by Danish exporting —often to standing orders week after week — f.o.b. Danish ports. What butter remains unordered is generally consigned to wholesale houses in Great Britain to be sold for a commission. Other dairies have formed ‘ Butter Export Societies,’ and these trade in just the same way as the private exporters. A number of these societies have formed an association for the purpose of securing the best possible prices, and also to improve the quality, and generally to further the interests of the societies. The fixing of weekly prices is carried out by the Copenhagen Butter Quotation Committee. This committee meets each Thursday. The basis of its deliberation is formed by reports from the various butter-markets, and very largely by the number or sizes of the orders received from customers at these markets. If the demand is above the average the quotation is increased ; if less orders have come in, it is lowered. The quotation is an attempt to give, .weekly, expression to the average price or value of Danish butter in the British markets. An error made one week is made good the next. If, for instance, the price be fixed too high, orders fall off, and the quotation is lowered next week, or vice versa.”