SALES (cont.)
The 8% decrease in sales of Seasonal Candy of $55,711 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 over the same period ended September 30, 2023, is primarily due to the effect of the following: 1) decreased sales in the bulk seasonal division by approximately $5,000 versus the same period a year ago, primarily due to decreased sales to existing customers; and 2) decreased sales to existing customers in the clamshell division by approximately $50,000. Management intends to implement a price increase for this category during 2025.
Despite the overall decrease in quantities sold for both divisions, the Company was able to implement a price increase in March 2024 of approximately 14% for the majority of the customers for Chase Candy products and in July 2024 of approximately 14% for the bulk and clamshell products. Both price increases have contributed to a slight increase in margins for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s business and the fact that the Company’s largest customer continues to have price increases at lower negotiated rates, the majority of these price increases will continue to be more fully realized during the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.
COST OF SALES
Cost of sales decreased $92,942 to $704,078 or 71% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $797,020 or 72% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2023.
The slight decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of sales is related to decreases in raw material quantities ordered, lower prices and labor efficiencies. 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.
SELLING EXPENSES
Selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 decreased $3,591 to $96,791, which is 10% of sales, compared to $100,382, or 9% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2023.
The decrease of $3,591 in selling expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 is primarily due to a decrease in commission expense of approximately $4,500 over the same period ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to decreased sales. This decrease was offset by increases totaling $1,000 in other miscellaneous selling expenses.
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GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 increased $5,033 to $204,128 and 21% of sales, compared to $199,096 or 18% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2023.
The increase of $5,033 in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 is primarily due to an increase in dues and subscriptions of approximately $8,500, an increase in insurance expense of $4,000, and approximately $3,000 of increases in other miscellaneous general and administrative expenses. The increase in dues and subscriptions is related to a subscription fee charge from one of the Company’s largest customers that began during the second quarter of 2023. These increases were offset by decreases in professional fees of approximately $9,000 for the period ended September 30, 2024.