Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 378, 12 June 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, Wholesale houses were very busy during last week, but trade is now somewhat quieter although still regarded as satisfactory for this period of the year. There is a fair amount of forward business being booked by travellers for all kinds of Christmas lines for delivery next November and December, as retailers realise that the offers now being made are, in most instances very attractive.

THE firmness in most markets for general foodstuff lines continues and every week brings advice of some advances with still higher levels likely to be reached. A welcome arrival last week ex Tainui was a shipment of Cairns Paisley Marmalade in assorted flavours. This line is very attractively packed in fancy glass bowls, and as there has been a shortage in imported marmalades lately, is meeting with a ready sale. CANNED FRUITS The local market is running very low' in certain lines of Australian packings, particularly sliced peaches. This is due to the long interval between vessels from Melbourne, and the position will not be eased until the arrival of the next steamer s.s. Kawatiri, due about the end of the month. There has been no change in F. 0.8. prices of canned fruits since the opening of the season, although certain packings are now withdrawn, apricots, both firsts and seconds, and seconds of sliced peaches being unobtainable. BEANS The forward market for haricot beans for shipment from Rangoon in July/August next, is considerably higher than the price ruling for the last steamer, but even at the advance of over £4 per ton above the previous rate, business sent up by local agents was not accepted, shippers advising that supplies were now exhausted owing to a heavy European demand. Prices for Madagascar butter beans have again advanced, with higher prices anticipated owing to heavy buying by America, and the shortage of haricots is certain to throw a further heavy demand on to the Madagascar article. PRESERVED GINGER Considerable interest has been shown by merchants during the past week or two in imported Hong Kong ginger, as notwithstanding the heavy import duty it carries the trade to a large extent demands the genuine Chinese make. As a stimulant to the demand the C.P.F.E. rate to-day is exceedingly low, which will have the effect of making the landed cost more than competitive with other brands. MUSCATELS Quotations for the new season’s pack of Californian muscatels have now been named and compared with last year’s prices are about 30 per cent, cheaper. The one-pound packets are now the popular sellers in this grade and, as the quality is reported to be excellent, a large amount of business has been placed for arrival about the end of November, Owing to the late arrival of some of the orders last year there was a considerable carry-over of stocks, and these are now being offered at very low rates in an effort to clear before the new crop shipments arrive. Prices for new season’s Spanish muscatels for September shipment are a little lower than last year’s quotations and as there is always a good demand for this fruit owing to the quality being better than Californian, no doubt a certain amount of business will be booked. N» » ITC; A general firming in prices of all nuts is now noticeable, Barcelona nuts having advanced a further £3 a ton. and both Brazil nuts and walnuts are steadily advancing. ALMONDS Prices for new crop P.G. Sicily almonds still remain on a very high level and until some definite information as to the cause of the advance is received buyers are not prepared to order. Jordan almonds have advanced a further 2s 6d per cwt., for September/October shipment with higher prices anticipated. Soft shell almonds also show a firm market as another slight increase in the price for August/September shipment is announced. MUTTON BIRDS There was a carry-over from last season in Tasmanian mutton birds and, owing to the price being slightly above last year’s opening rate, merchants did not order as heavily as usual, as they thought prices w r ould probably decline. The reverse has been the case as the season was a short one and no further supplies can be booked in Tasmania. The strike in Australia has had the effect of holding up shipment of the orders previously placed, consequently, local stocks are now running very low. Although prices for Stewart Island birds were below those ruling last year, little business was booked here, and the catch is stated to have been very light, although the quality of the birds available is said to be excellent. FIGS

The business booked in Smyrna quality has not been so heavy this year, as several buyers ordered too many last year with the result that, being chiefly a Christmas line the unsold portion has become a total loss. Prices for new season’s are considerably lower than previous rates and, as agents were able to confirm orders subject to a fall clause up to September next, most of the business "was placed immediately. Cooking figs in 71b and 2Slb bags command a good sale for most of the year and bookings for both September and October shipments are considerable as prices are very favourable this year and local stocks at present are light. PRIED FRUITS

Prices for new season’s California dried fruits are lower this week, but up.to the present very little business has been placed, as, until something definite is announced regarding the prospects of the crop, buj-ers prefer to hold off. Owing to the favourable rates ruling for prunes this season, very heavy orders were booked and the local market is overstocked at present, as, owing to the colder weather the demand is not so great—it is considered, however, that a strong enquiry will be in evidence in a month or two. CHERRIES

As prices for the new crop of French drained and crystallised cherries have been withdrawn meantime, considerable attention has been given to stocks of present crop still available in London. Cables to hand this week advise an advance of over 2d per pound in whole drained glace cherries for prompt shipment, and broken cherries in tins and boxes show an increase of nearly 3d. and for the remaining stocks of crystallised an advance of Id a pound is asked. Stocks held locally are light and it seems evident that a considerable shortage will he exoerienced before the new fruit is available.