SALES (cont.)
The 3% decrease in sales of Seasonal Candy of $24,046 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 over the same period ended September 30, 2022, is primarily due to the effect of the following: 1) decreased sales in the bulk seasonal division by approximately $45,000 versus the same period a year ago, primarily due to decreased sales to existing customers; and 2) increase in sales allowances and discounts by approximately $20,000 primarily related to returns from a large customer offset by 3) increased sales to existing customers in the regular produce category by approximately $25,000 versus the same period a year ago; and 4) increased sales to existing customers in the clamshell division by approximately $17,000 versus the same period a year ago.
COST OF SALES
Cost of sales increased $10,519 to $797,020 or 72% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $786,501 or 67% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of sales is related to increases in raw materials and labor. Due to volatility in the regions where these raw materials are grown, management anticipates the prices of these raw materials to continue to fluctuate primarily based on supply and demand. All employees were given a 5-10% raise at the end of January 2023. The Company was able to implement a price increase in December 2022 for the majority of customers for Chase Candy products to mitigate increasing prices. The increase in pricing did not fully contribute to improving margins for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 because the price increases in late December 2022 still have not been fully implemented due to contractual pricing with one of the Company’s largest customers. Additionally, no pricing increases occurred for the Seasonal Candy division during the current fiscal year.
SELLING EXPENSES
Selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 increased $1,042 to $100,382, which is 9% of sales, compared to $99,340, or 8% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
The increase of $1,042 in selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense due to the purchase of new vehicles, offset by a decrease in commissions expense. Commissions expense decreased approximately $2,000 to approximately $55,000 for this period from approximately $57,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to decreased sales.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased $7,273 to $199,096 or 18% of sales, compared to $206,369 or 17% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
The decrease of $7,273 in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily due to decreases in professional fees of approximately $12,000. These amounts were offset by increases in other miscellaneous general and administrative expenses, specifically increases in labor costs of approximately $5,500 for the period ended September 30, 2023.