Final year of Girl Guide biscuits
Girls Guide biscuits will be off the menu after this year because of rising costs in production, packaging and distribution.
Girl Guide biscuits have been a part of New Zealand’s history for 62 years, with many sales made by guides selling them door to door.
Invercargill Girl Guide leader Amanda Jones was feeling nostalgic before the biscuits arrived in the city for the final time.
Four pallets, containing 290 cartons of biscuits will be on sale tomorrow at a storage facility in Onslow St.
Unlike previous years there will be no door-knocking in residential areas.
‘‘We don’t have enough girls and leaders to do door-knocking now,’’ Jones said.
‘‘It’s not financially viable [to produce the biscuits]. The cost of making them, packaging and shipping them out everywhere is high.’’
Sales had dropped in recent years and Jones said a reason was cheaper biscuits at supermarkets and The Warehouse.
‘‘There’s a huge difference . . . you can buy some for $1.20 and our biscuits are $3.50 [a packet].’’
This week, one loyal buyer of Girl Guide biscuits placed his annual 15-carton order with Jones.
She had heard of some customers who liked adding cheese, jam and Vegemite to their guide biscuits.
Jones said when Girl Guides were mentioned, a lot of New Zealanders instantly thought of the biscuits.
‘‘We should be known for more than that.
‘‘We do community work, teach life and leadership skills [to the girls], help people . . . we empower the girls to be strong women when they grow up.’’
There are 122 Pippins, Brownies, Girl Guides and Rangers in Southland.
The biscuits will be on sale at the Onslow St unit from 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm tomorrow.