Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 390, 26 June 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, Trade with wholesale merchants i has again been brisk during the past week, orders for next month from both town and country being considered very satisfactory. The colder weather which has been experienced has increased the demand for many grades of breakfast foods, while soups in both packets and tins are in strong demand. A popular brand of breakfast food, hitherto packed in 21b packets, is now being put up in 11b packets and this should meet the requirements of the small householder. ; r PPIE reduction of 10s a ton in the | price of sugar has had the effect of | an alteration of 3d a bag in the ex- | store price to the retail. Another ! new line just introduced by one of the local manufacturers is a linoleum varnish in h and 1 pint tins, and as the quality is reported on very favourably, this line should meet with a ready sale. Merchants are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Melbourne steamer due in a few days’ time, as further supplies of Australian macaroni and vermicelli will then be available, stocks on spot at present being exceedingly short. This vessel is also bringing | further supplies of all grades of AusS tralian sultanas and some varieties (if canned fruits which are in short supply. PEPPER Last week's cables from Singapore brought the welcome news of a decline of about 4d a lb in pepper, both for prompt and forward shipment. As most of the local stocks are almost exhausted, merchants were pleased to have this advice, but are now only ordering sufficient quantities to cover their immediate requirements. Present indications are for a further easing of prices, especially in view of the new crop being available for shipment in a month or two. PIN EAPPLES Quotations for all grades of Singapore pineapples are again slightly firmer this week, but little interest is being shown in this line at present, as most buyers bought their requirements for the JulyAugust steamer some months ago. It is anticipated that this steamer will bring a record shipment of pineapples to the Dominion, as owing to the exceptionally low prices which have ruled, bookings have been made on a very large scale. CANNED FRUITS Advice from Melbourne shippers says that no further supplies of either first or second grade canned peaches are now available for export to New Zealand. Merchants are holding limited stocks, and those retailers who have not booked their supplies would be well advised to cover their requirements before stocks are cleared. PEANUTS There is still an acute shortage locally for Java peanut kernels and, although a ton or two arrived by the Sydney steamer last week, these will not go very far toward satisfying the demand. The c.i.f. cost for new crop lias now advanced 20s a ton from the opening rate of a few weeks ago, and as new season’s are only offered for August shipment, it will be some time yet before l.he local requirements can be riiet. RICEM EAL This line, which is drawn from Australia, has been in short supply of late, and some Australian millers have been unable to offer for some time. Agents for one of the chief suppliers from Sydney have now had a small parcel offered at 10s a ton above the last rate, and in view of the present high prices ruling for pollard, ricemeal would cost, less to land, consequently it should meet with a good demand. DATES Prime quality Khadrawi dates are now being offered from Sydney stocks, but the price is considerably above the rate at which most of the business for June to August shipment from London was placed. As all London stocks have now been booked and no further supplies are available, except a few Sair quality, there seems every prospect of the market being cleared before the arrival of the new fruit. Carton dates are meeting with a good demand, with stocks light, and advice from London is to the effect that there are few supplies offering until the new crop pack is ready. FIGS The demand for this once popular l'ruit appears to be less than was the case some years ago, and the bookings this year are considerably below last year’s figures. This applies to the Smyrna variety which are considered to be much superior in quaiity to the Californian fig. Prices for the new crop Californian are not yet to hand, but it is expected that the quantities ordered will be below those of last season. ALMONDS Following the recent sharp advances in all grades of almonds, cables have now been received notifying an advance of nearly £3O a ton in the prices of all sizes of ground almonds. As only a small portion of the season’s orders have been placed, most buyers will be compelled to secure their requirements at the increased rate. CHERRI ES Some agents are again offering new season’s French crystallised cherries, and compared with the previous prices, today's rates represent an advance of over Id a lb. Owing to the increased duty now payable on French cherries, the cost to the consumer will be much higher this Christmas than was the case last year. SULTANAS A reduction of over 5s a cwt has been advised in quotations for new crop Smyrna sultanas, but even at present prices there has been practically no business booked, although should advice be received that the quality has improved this year, a certain amount of orders will be placed later on. A well-known Californian packer has been supplying the European market with a particularly attractive line of raisins called Golden Bleached, which strongly resemble the Smyrna article, and as supplies have already been received on this market, and quality has proved very satisfactory, j a fair amount of business lias been placed j for the new crop, supplies of which will j be ready for shipment from San Francisco in September next. MUSCATELS One of the Californian packers who caters for the trade in the cheaper qualities of dried fruits, has reduced his price ; of muscatels in cartons by about ud a box, although prices from other sources remain unchanged. Quotations for Malaga muscatels are said to have advanced, but some agents have not yet received their prices for new season’s pack. CH E ESE In sympathy with the Improved con- ; ditions on the London market local quotations for all grades of cheese have been moved forward. Pixie-Uno and Chesdale are now offered at Is 3d a lb j wholesa.de; other grades have shared in j the advance. TINNED BUTTER (United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service) Reed. 10 a.m. LONDON, Monday. An experimental shipment of 20 tins of Taranaki butter by the steamship Devon, under a vacuum process similar to that of cheese, turned out in splendid condition. Experts consider the type of O.K. container is inconvenient, and suggest that a new form is necessary before the process can be successful. A London Message of May 15 said:— The New Zealand dairy produce inspectors, Messrs. Wright and Ross, and other experts, examined a parcel of cheese shipped from New Zealand under the vacuum products process. The consignment turned out irregularly. Some were apparently good and , others were more or less decayed. Samples were taken for bacteriological ; examination, the report of which will be forwarded to the New Zealand De- j partment of Agriculture.