1
I
ed some to the ~eight of Oh Henry bars
beginning 1 an. 1, also another small in·
crease as of Feb. 1. Peter Paul, Inc., began
more than two months ago to increase th e
weight of three of its bars- although old
labels are still being used. This firm made
the chocolate thicker.
Other bar manufacturers were reported
to be increasing bar sizes, ~s of Feb. 1,
but would require three to four weeks to
get new bars out on the market.
The price angle will be of most direct
interest to operators. Many of them have
already profited by the price reductions on
certain bars, and notices of price reduc·
tions on candy bars are now a welcom e
routine. ,The WSl lists the following price
reductions to illustrate the trend:
_E. 1. Brach & Sons wired wholesalers,
1 an. 31, that prices on three of its bars had
been cut from 80 to 72 cents on 24-count
boxes; Walter H. 10hnson reduced Power-
house bars from 80 to 72 cents; Wilbur-
Suchard offered a 1 anuary special, at 72
cents instead of 80; Euclid Candy Co. has
cut from 80 to 75 cents; and so on. Some
of the firms have been offering similar price
cuts on the larger packs most often pur-
chased by operators.
Hershey is said to be sticking to its price
list, but admits considering a bigger bar.
Hershey has helped other manufacturers
reduce ,prices, however, by cutting cost on
coatings by as much as half on some types.
Operators will be interested in the re-
port th
been running about 20 per cent below the
same period a year ago. It seems that 1949
is starting off similar to the previous year,
for the first two months of 1948 brought a
definite drop in sales of all kinds of candy,
including candy bars through vendors.
Manufacturers say that, by giving op-
erators and retailers a better break and
also by giving the .consumer a bigger bar,
they hope to sell more candy bars this year.
In an official report, the National Candy
Wholesalers Assn. said manufacturers had
started reducing prices last year, but that
some makers were offering premiums and
deals in an effort to maintain present prices.
Wholesalers much prefer price redur-tions,
the report said.
The cocoa bean subject probably will be
much discussed for months. The spot mar-
ket price dropped from 53 cents a pound
last November to 23 cents on lan. 31. Th e
African crop began moving in November
and showed up to be bigger than expected.
About half of the Brazilian crop has been
held off the market, but will be available
eventually. Processors like Hershey carry
supply to cover three to five months. Gen-
eral stocks in the country are low; most
buyers bought lightly for months to force
prices down .
Cocoa bean and chocolate market circles
have buzzed for weeks with reports that
candy bar sizes will be increase d and will
use 'more 'chocolate. One candy trade pa-
per recently said market authorities have
advised that the recent drop in cocoa bean
prices was "quite abnormal," and that sell-
ers of chocolate should be prepared for
other changes.
Peanut prices come in for much criticism
by candy manufacturers. Market prices for
processed peanuts seem to be still holding
at a high level, said to be bolstered by th e
large exports of pea nuts. Growers have
heen getting about one cent lower per
pound than parity support price for their
1948 crop. Except for the present high
export rate, peanut prices should show
some declines in price.
MARCH, 1949
REGIONAL REPORTS
(Continued from page 42 )
of new locations such as airports and filling
stations here.
All in all, the Industry is crying for a
more eff~.cti"e public relations program at
the conimunity level and a number of
prominent coinmen and association officials
are aiming at getting membership inter-
ested in. becoming more active in their
community affairs to gain friendship
towards the long-suffering Coin Machine
Industry in this state. Coinmen hope to
build reputations to prevent future attacks.
DO YOU WANT TO SA VI
A MILLION DOLLARS?
-Then you'd bett~r start a minf-
But we can help yo u ma ke
money if you i /I b uy 10 of
these-
MONEY·MAKERS
N . F. Wood
Washinglon, D. C.
Operator business has not been good re-
cently, but thousands of D. C. government
workers are about to get a $330 raise, and
that should mean a lot more loose money
floating around. ,Federal workers received
a similar raise last year.
General business during 1 anuary and
early February was al~o poor except for a
brief spurt during Inauguration Week, and
even that spurt was' less ' than expected.
Operators are not discouraged, however,
and hope for better things when the winter
doldrums ar" over. Commerce Dept. has
rome out with some intprestin lY figures for
Wa~hington business. ' All retail busines~es
in 1948 averaged a 5 per cent gain over the
previous year. For filling stations and drug
stores in the nation's capital, the gain was
about 14 per cent. D. C. restaurants and
taverns, however, reported declines of 3
per cent from 1947.
,
Arcades are doing fairly well, with two
new ones having opened in recent weeks
to bring the downtown total to seven. In
mid-town, two Negro establishments are
operating. The opening of a fourth D. C.
television station, WOIC, hypoed TV in-
terest to the detriment of phono operators.
The sensational success of the local basket-
ball pros has spurred interest in telecasts
of 'the games. The flow of coins into pin
balls has been satisfactory, but the terrific
cost of maintenance imd new equipment is
playing hob with the net.
Soft drink vendors ' are doing fair fo}
winter months, while the pick-uD in candy
sales hasn't been all that could be hoped
for. Ciggie machines are doing okeh, but
operators have their eye peeled on the
prospective salps tax which will force a
orice rise. Luckies are well out in front,
but Philip ' Morris is moving up like a
house' afire. Coin laundries, located in most
of the newer apartment houses, are earning
their keep, and a couDle of laundries have
oDened UD in the northwest section of town.
Shoe shiners are sDotted only in arcades
and are attracting little trade. Scales con-
tinue to show a small but steady profit.
R oy S. R amsey
Push Qtrorterly Tax Payment
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.-A special meet-
ing of the tax committee of the National
Assn. of Automatic Machine Owners was
held here recently to outline plans for ob-
taining payment of federal taxes on coin
machines quarterly instead of on an an-
nual basis.
The committee discussed ways of pre-
senting a petition to proper officials, pos-
sibly to the House Ways and Means Com-
mittee eventually. Arguments to be used
were also discussed fully. One suggestion
considered is that federal tax stamps be
issued, to be affixed to each machine on
which fee has been paid. Before further
steps are taken, NAAMO requests that op-
erators write their views to its headquarters
at 1325 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N. 1.
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