New-York tribune., 1897-01-24
ALL PUT Up IN PACKAGES.
THE MODERN WAY OF SELLING GROCERIES.

THE MODERN WAY OF SELLING GROCERIES,
Those nersons whose experience IN buying grocery
supplies extends back for half dozen years VIII
remember that at that time every article OF iooo
sold came In bulk Huge boxes or bins con'aiheo
the different kinds of dry groceries,. ana from
these receptacles the grocers clerk was Obliged 10
SCOOP out the desired quantity. weigh It, throw
hack the surplus and then put up the purchase III
a large, unwieldy paper bag. These pags hao d"
unfortunate tendency TO break open upon the way
home and whether the customer carried MS OWE
parcels or had them sent By the grocers pos. '"o
result was equally wasteful. not to mention the con-
fusion that was wrought In the Kitchen when 'he
lcaky package was delivered impartialy both on
the table and the floor.
Rut \ gradual change which began to take place
at about this time and which has been steadily
going on ever since. has swept away all the In
conyeniences of the old method OF selling groceries,
and has worked to the advantage OF both the mer-
chants and their customers This is the practice.
now met with to some extent even In inc most re-
mote country villages. OF having the various ar''.
cles of food put up beforehand In sealed ana
weighed packages.
Oatmeal and the other cereals were propaoiy the
first substances upon which the new plan was
tried and the form In which they now come. IN
pasteboard boxes. has been familiar FOR several
wears Later. all kinds OF dried fruits. apples
peaches, raisins. currants. figs. dates. etc. were
likewise put up In weighed packages In the same
manner instead of being kept, formerly. loose In
large receptacles Tea Is frequently sold now In
packages though that Is more recent deveiop-
ment and has not yet become as common as the
others Coffee is also sold in the same way. though
many people will not buy II so. for fear that X
has lost some OF It's aroma 1t Is quite true that this
loss does take place easily. ana TO prevent such
deterioration the grocers have the packages put
up freshly each day from the artlght DIN IN "hch
the bulk Of the coffee Is kept.
1T is only question OF time said promi-
nent New-York grocer last week. before prac-
tcally everything In our business will be sold In
the package form. 1t saves our men an infinite
amount of trouble in dipping out, weighing and
wrappng and that reason alone would be suf-
ficent recommend 1t 10 us But a more I'M
portant advantage is that It maintains a better
quality of each article When things kept in
large receptacles to which every one has constant
access a certain amount OF dirt Is bound TO get
in Then most substances are injured by being
much exposed to the air.
1T is also much more convenient for the pur-
chaser to be able TO keep the article In he'box IN
which 1t comes ,han TO have to provide one for II
at home as the old way demanded 1t is sometimes
thought that the value Of the boxes and packages
must increase the of the food TO the customer.
but this Is not true in most cases. When IL is Me
usually find that people are willing TO pay trlne
condition"
An advantage to the makers OF the goods. which.
while quite different from the others Is by no
means insignificant is the free advertising they get
from having the aforesaid packages scattered far
course has its label giving the name and address
of the manufacturers in large letters People learn
to ask for Smiths Oatmeal or Zones Jones ar,t, Drien
is increased II II has been said that the S
the necessity Of shipping them, by mall and ex-
press to the out-of-town trade. This seems prob
able and it Is no wonder .ha mi sne OF h
city business as well