Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, December 17, 1929. The wholesale grocery houses continue to be exceptionally busy, the volume of business now being transacted for January account, being easily a record for the year. Packing departments in particular have had to work a considerable amount of overtime in preparing for the seasonal rush of orders, which, it is expected, will all be dispatched by the end of this week. MERCHANTS report that supplies of a number of Christmas goods are already almost exhausted, this referring particularly to muscatels, figs, stuffed dates and crystallised cherries. Plentiful supplies of new season’s dates in both bulk and cartons are available, and as the quality this year is above the average, there has been a keen demand for all packings. Strong inquiry continues for all kinds of canned goods, including herrings, sardines, salmon, sheep tongues and peaches, which usually sell freely at this time of the year. All sizes of prunes are in very short supply, the limited quantities imported so far til's year, owing to the higher prices, being inadequate for the summer demand. Christmas hams are not (selling as freely as was the case in former years, consequently some packers are overstocked. and have reduced their prices Id a lb. One well-known manufacturer advises an increase in the price of ships’ lime juice. Pepper in small tins, in sympathy with lower landed* costs, has been reduced. One wholesale packer has already named prices for new season’s pie fruits. On the whole these appear to be slightly lower than last year, but owing to the plentiful supplies of fresh fruit which will soon be available, the demand will not be very large for some months. The list of goods which arrived during the past week includes shipments of cornflour, sugarcorn, canned peas, macaroni, vermicelli and canned peaches. ALMONDS Quotations for Sicily almonds continue to decline, and it would appear that the crops this year have been heavy. Jordan almonds are also being offered at lower rates, especially for the larger sizes, which are not so suitable for the manufacturer’s trade. Soft-shell varieties are easier for prompt shipment, but as this grade is only imported for the Christmas trade, the new price is only of nominal interest meantime. BEANS Some shippers are already quoting new season’s haricot beans for shipment from Rangoon (via Calcutta) by the MarchApril direct steamer. These quotations are a little below the opening rates of last year, but it must be remembered that, in keeping with the world’s shortage of beans generally, these were very high. At pi'esent merchants are awaiting prices from other shippers before ordering their winter requirements. Slightly lower offers have been made for Madagascar lima beans for March shipment from London, but prices for the earlier deliveries remain firm at last rates quoted. COFFEE Notwithstanding the fact that the crop of Java Robusta coffee, this season was about 20 per cent, below the average, the prices now ruling are the lowest that have been available for several years. In sympathy with prices for most other descriptions, the rates for Mocha grade are also lower. CANNED FRUITS Due to the warmer weather and the early approach of Christmas, ail packs of canned fruits are now meeting with an exceptional demand. Sliced peaches are in very short supply locally, but in most instances the retail trade is accepting this fruit in halves. Canned apricots maintain a full share of the demand, particularly for South African packed, but these are now running short. New Zealandpacked Bartlett pears are enjoying an increased consumption, but as advised some weeks ago packers are unable to make further deliveries this season, and it is doubtful if supplies will last until the new pack comes in about FebruaryMarch next. After being delayed from last month prices for the coming new pack of Australian canned fruits are now expected daily, a»d it is anticipated that the f.o.b. rates will be higher than last year. It is partly due to this fact that merchants report heavy sales of all holdings, and no further supplies being available from Australia this year. GINGER The market for Cochin ginger remains steady. / quotations received this week being on a par with the last ruling rates. Little interest is being displayed in this commodity meantime, as most of the business for the new crop has already been booked at favourable prices. PIN EAPPLES Business for the December sailing has now finished, and buyers are giving their attention to bookings by the March-April steamer. The recent low prices that applied to the December steamer are not applicable to the March-April sailing, sellers requiring nearly 2d a •dozen advance for this delivery. It is very difficult to forecast the market at this stage. On account of their winter season the London demand will naturally be restricted. and it is therefore confidently expected that prices will remain fairly steady at today’s levels. Advices to hand from Singapore state that the s.s. Duremla leaving there a week later than the Narbada will carry the Auckland and Wellington shipments of Singapore produce. PEPPER Prices remain steady, and in view of the conflicting reports which have been in circulation regarding the future prospects, it will be interesting to see how this market moves during the next two months. TAPIOCAS After a sharp advance last week prices have since declined to the level of quotations a fortnight ago. Merchants have not yet commenced booking for the March-April steamer, as it is considered, that lower offers will be available for this shipment. HERRINGS English herrings in tomato sauce are in very short supply, a good deal, of interhouse buying having to be done, as chants are finding it difficult to fill their orders. Since the naming of the opening prices in June-July last, the chief English packers have withdrawn the special discounts, and, apart from the quantities bought on contract for spread shipments, any future arrivals will lan-l at approximately 10 per cent, higher. PRUN ES Reports from California state that the restricted export demand for prunes has been due, largely to the fact that many European countries enjoyed good crops of fresh fruit this season, which will delay the active demand for dried fruits until the spring. Quotations for all sizes of Californian prunes for prompt shipment from San Francisco are again slightly lower this week. Favourable quotations are to hand for 30/40 and 40/50 sizes of Oregon-Washington French prunes for shipment up to March next. A small consignment of this quality is already on the water, but these have been bought more in the nature of a trial shipment as this grade is not so sweet as the Californian article and may not entirely suit the requirements of this market The shipments will land about Id a lb. below the rates for Californian prunes, but the present offers for Oregons, for shipment up to March next, should land at even more favourable prices.