Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, August 21. During last week business in wholesale grocery circles was quiet, so far as orders for August account were concerned, but as deliveries for September can be made at the end of this week, a decided improvement is now noticeable. This applies more especially to country orders. A LTHOUGH a considerable amount of forward business in Christmas lines for delivery in November and December has already been placed, orders continue to come in, and merchants seem confident that this year’s turnover will be quite satisfactory. The manufacturers of a well-known brand of extract of soap are now offering to give one box of their product free with all orders for 10 boxes. A small shipment of Laurel Wreath salmon has just arrived to a bare market, and it is anticipated that supplies will soon be exhausted. Further quantities of Canadian canned peas and the June shipments of Brazil nuts just to hand are meeting with a ready sale. CHERRIES Further information from London shippers of French cherries, both crystalised and drained, confirms the previous reports that the position is very serious, as the new crop has been an exceptionally | poor one. London stocks of the present crop have all been cleared, and it is fully expected that cherries may be practically ! unprocurable later in the year, except at ! fancy prices. Local stocks are light at ! present. Under the new regulations crystallised cherries are now subject to an import duty of 45 per cent., and this, added to the higher c.i.f.e. cost, will have the effect of a very much increased selling rate to the retailer. ALMONDS Quotations for new season’s ground almonds now to hand are much higher than the prices at which old season's have been ruling, the total advance being almost £4O a ton. Although it was expected that prices for all almonds were likely to decline, cable advice states that the market for ground almonds is certain to reach still higher levels. WALN UTS Further information on the present crop of walnuts states that stocks in London are almost exhausted, and prices have advanced £5 a ton. Indent quotations for new seasons’s French and Manchurian nuts remain firm, and it is anticipated that an early advance in both grades is probable. DATES Shipments of both Khandrawi and Syar dates just landed are a very poor sample consequently they are being offered at attractive rates to clear stocks before the arrival of the new crop. Cables received last week advise that the crop is reported to be less than last season, but the quality will be much better. Quotations for the October shipment by the direct steamer have not yet been announced, although pi'esent indications point to prices being about on a par with last season's opening rates. Business has already been booked in carton dates, several shippers having offered their own brands at what are considered fairly reasonable rates. A new line of cartons to be introduced this season is an atti'activcly designed packet which will contain stoned dates. As only the best quality of golden dates will be used in the packing of this line, and each layer will be separated by a wax paper, it is thought that the line will meet with ready sale. Another innovation this year is the packing of bulk dates in lib paper bags. These will be packed by machinery in Basra, and as supplies will be available for the Christmas trade, the great saving in labour will no doubt be appreciated by the retail trade. PRUNES A decline of about 2s Gd a cwt is notified this week for all grades of new season’s prunes, for shipment from San Francisco in October next. With the exception of 40/50 size, stocks held locally are fairly heavy, but the demand is steadily increasing, and all stocks should be cleared before the arrival of the new fruit. One or two shippers have had trouble with their shipments to the Dominion during the past few months, the prunes being mouldy on arrival, and this has had the effect of restricting the bookings of the new crop, from California state that the crop •prospects are favourable, although there is a shortage in other parts of the world, particularly in Oregon, where the low prices made in recent years were a large factor in depressing the Californian market. P A ISI N S', The situation regarding all grades of Californian raisins remains extremely unsettled. Prices have reached such low levels, particularly in unbleached varieties, that it is impossible to gauge the future position. It is thought that the low prices will stimulate the consumption, which may result in a gradual improvement of the market, but at the present prices ruling some of the growers may not be able to bring in their crops, as the prices that can be offered them on to-day’s selling market are materially below the cost of production. Quotations for spread shipment up to June next continue to decline. Thompson’s seedless raisins unbleached having been reduced by over $d a lb since the opening rates were announced. All bleached grades and seeded raisins in : cartons have reached much lower levels. Considerable business was placed last week for spread shipment, and there is still no sign of any firming of the market. PINEAPPLES The Sussex was expected to leave Singapore on August 18, and is due here about September 15. It was anticipated that the heavy shipments of canned pineapples which have been made by this vessel would arrive to rather a full market, but stocks have been moving off more freely, and are now about i*>rmal Quotations for the next direct steamer 1 in December remain unchanged, with little business passing. SYDNEY WOOL SALES FIRST OF SEASON HELD {United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Monday. The first of the season’s wool sales was opened with a catalogue of 8,904 bales, of which 6,874 were sold. Rather less burr was evident, although the staple was somewhat deficient. Best fleece wools of all descriptions and skirtings were on a par with opening sale rates a year ago. Ordinary to inferior were 5 per cent, lower. The market generally for fleece was from 5 to 75 per cent, lower than in June, while skirtings were firm and unchanged. Japan, Germany and Yorkshire were the principal buyers. Greasy Merino fleece sold to 26^d. COMPANY REGISTRATIONS Three private companies were registered in Auckland yesterday:— Johnson, Garnett, Ltd., indentors, manufacturers’ agents, etc.; capital, £55,00, divided into £1 shares; subscribers, E. D. Johnson, 40,000; Annie L. Johnson, 3,000; George Murray, 3,000 shares (all of Christchurch!; Nicholas Richardson, Auckland, 4,000 shares: Arthur F. Fitchett, Wellington, 3,000 ; shares. W. Parkinson and Co., Auckland, JAd., stone and marble masons, etc.; capital £30,000, divided into £1 shares; subscribers, William Parkinson, Auckland, 29,998 shares; Emily Annie Parkinson and Harold W. Parkinson, one share each. MacLeod's, Ltd., silk mercers, etc.; capital, £4OO. divided into £1 shares; subscribers, Alec. W. MacLeod and Robert C. MacLeod, 200 shares each.