Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
October 4th, 2006

 

Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Present: Toni Hoyman, Dave Hockman-Wert, Anne White, Dana Allen and John Nichols
Absent: Michele Adams, Liz Kelly
Scribe: Josh Curtis

STANDARD BUSINESS:
Owner Comment: None
Announcements & Affirmations: Dana will be retiring effective Jan. 6th, 2007.
Calendar and Timeline: The next meeting will be November 1st at 5:00pm.

 

SUBMITTED AGENDA ITEMS:

Review of September Financials
· Presented of the August financial statements. Discounts have been running high. This is due to large amounts of prepared foods. Labor as a percentage of sales continues to do well. Though it did increase in August, YTD is still well within our percentage. Non-operating income has gone up considerably due to the rack credit. Despite the 500,00 dollar discrepancy between budgeted and actual sales, YTD net income is at 40,000.
· Discussed trend impact, adjustments and considerations. There has been a definite impact in sales at the South store due to the bridge closure. Fortunately, it appears that many of these sales are going to the North store.
· Reviewed the September Sales Graph. The North store was very close to reaching the budgeted sales.

Continue Retreat Discussion of Bottom Line 'Special' Financial Reports for Board
· Discussed introduction of simpler bottom line reports related to possible expansion.
· Discussed reintroduction of Pete Davis' market study.
· Will discuss this further at the November meeting.

Begin Review of Proposed '07 Budget

· Compared sales projections to pro forma sales projections. The overall sales projection is a composite from collaboration with buyers to project each individual department. The buyers want their projections to be reasonable and achievable rather than being aggressive.
· Financial Manager presented major financial issues and assumptions. The loss of HP money in the local economy has been felt throughout the entire year and has begun to stabilize.
· Discussed growth expectations. Median growth within the cooperative grocery industry is 11 percent.
· More Owner Appreciation Sales Days should provide the budgeted increase in sales.
· Discussed the effects of inflation on the growth rate.
· Discussed labor percentages. Janitorial expenses have been moved from labor to other retail operating expense.
· There is an increased allotment for consulting expenses.
· Discussed the commissary operation changes. These changes will allow us to monitor the expenses associated with our prepared foods. The new items will appear on monthly reports
· Financial Manager presented the capital and non-ops budgets. Pending decision to use NCGA training, Board Discretionary could increase by 5,000.
· The large increase in Non-operating expenses is due to the increased number of owner sale days.
· The budget for Special events covers the Calzone booth expenses.

Review Financial Contingency Plan
Reviewed and prepared for approval.

Meeting adjourned: 6:35 pm