TURNOVER - For the Financial Year ended June 30th 2008, gross sales were
approx $90,000. (***Note: The single packet price of $3.30 was increased
from $3.00 in May 2008). Net profit is expected to be around
$47-$50,000.
WHOLESALING - One of the business's great advantages is that it relies
on no passing trade whatsoever and therefore can obviously be located
without the normal restraints of position and associated rentals.
EQUIPMENT - Two specially designed and built manual presses enable the
operators to drastically reduce labour time, effort and eliminate the
very real risk of Repetitive Strain Injury. The principal machine places
24 biscuits on a baking tray in approx 7 seconds (average of 80 seconds
with a scoop) while the second machine flattens and rolls indentation
across a tray in approx 5 seconds (average of 25 seconds if a utensil is
used).
See Videos below
***Note:
Each machine has its occasional drawback The main press can
hold 3x3OLt mixing bowls but the mix must be consistent or
undersized/oversized biscuits may result. A larger capacity mixer should
correct this problem (one mix only) but at present we adjust size by
hand where necessary.
The second press, because the nature of biscuit mix is sticky,
experiences difficulties when the weather is warm and wet. The varieties
that require rolling - 3 of the 7 (16 year tradition) - are then
switched to dry days. Air conditioning may control this problem but we
have not trialled same.
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
-
Two commercial "Blue Seal" fan-forced gas ovens. Total output is
approx 670 biscuits per hour which equates to 67 packs at the current
wholesale price of $3.30/pack = $220/hr.
-
One industrial 3OLt mixer with two stainless steel mixing bowls.
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Double bowl trolley
-
Approx 90 baking trays
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Two tray-cooling trolleys
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Biscuit packing trolley
-
30+ air-tight biscuit storage containers
Apart from the larger capacity mixer and air conditioner mentioned
previously, an oven able to accommodate a large wheel in trolley would
have been on the shopping list were we to do this all over again -
either to reduce present hours or maximize production.
BAKERY SET UP - Biscuit bakeries are classed as low risk food
manufacturing and thus health requirements are not as stringent as for
others. On the Tablelands, the Council permits the set up of baking
premises (with conditions) beside a residence, eliminating rental
burdens and travelling etc.
POTENTIAL - Production output is governed totally by the limitations
of the proprietors (2) who work without staff and who are nearing
retirement. With approx. 35 outlets at the time of writing, only four
are located in Cairns - two at the Cairns airport, one at the city's
largest market and one coffee/upmarket produce shop. The remainder of
outlets are located on the Tablelands and the northern beaches suburbs.
Only four new outlets (the business began with 14 in the first year or
so) have been sought since establishment in 1992 - the remainder have
approached us, which underlines the product's reputation and clearly
highlights just what expansion could be achieved with active promotion,
particularly in Cairns and further south. At present, we have had to
delay new customers until we check demand trends and gauge ability to
supply.
