MENACE OF MARGARINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 January 1931, Page 3

MENACE OF MARGARINE

ENDANGERS OUR TRADE Latest news from Britain shows farmers the seriousness of the margarine menace to the dairy industry. Recently a_ campaign was launched by Messrs Van Den Berghs, Ltd., on behalf of the Margarine Union, asking grocers throughout the British Isles to concentrate upon selling margarine. Grocers in certain districts were invited to dinner as guests of the Margarine Union. Thereafter speakers outlined the profits to be secured by concentrating upon pushing margarine. A comprehensive competition involving £3OOO in cash prizes lias been launched. Associated with this competition £IOOO was given to grocers—for instance, the grocer who supplied the winner of the first prize would receive £SOO, and another £SOO distributed among those supplying the second, third and fourth prize-winners.

Definite effort, was made by the speakers, on behalf of the Margarine Union, to convince grocers that they should indulge in definite concerted effort to switch customers from butter to margarine. This propaganda seems to have had a definite influence with many members of the grocery trade. According to reports ill the “Grocers’ Review,” many speakers, in response, said that there was no profit in butter, and they did not care if they never sold any". Butter firms did not do anything for the grocer. Some speakers agreed that they ought to co-operate with the margarine manufacturers in pushing margarine for six months.