The Exhibitor (1952)

EP-6 EXTRA PROFITS Pepsi-Cola Reports Record Profits New York — Alfred N. Steele, president, announced recently that the Pepsi-Cola Company and its subsidiaries netted $2,632,181 in 1951, or 45% cents a share, more than double the $1,271,919 or 22 cents a share earned in 1950. In addition to the 45% cents earned per share in 1951, there was a surplus credit of $1,831,385, representing a net refund of United States income and excess profit taxes. The gross profit on sales for 1951 was $30,216,383, against $23,765,879 for 1S50. The 1951 figures exclude the British and Netherlands subsidiaries, and the 1950 financial results have been restated on a comparable basis. Without excluding these subsidiaries, the earnings per share were 52% cents in 1951 and 28 cents in 1950. In 1951, Pepsi-Cola's heavy cash re¬ quirements included expenditures of $8,791,000 for plant construction, additions or improvements, purchase of new plants, vending machines, bottles and cases, and automotive equipmet. Similar expendi¬ tures in 1950 amounted to $4,669,000. Reported case sales of bottled Pepsi¬ Cola increased 14.1 per cent in 1951 over 1950, and case sales reported by bottlers for the first two months of 1952 are at the highest level in the company’s history. For 18 consecutive months, sales of Pepsi¬ Cola have shown an increase compared to the same month of the preceding year. Case sales of Pepsi-Cola in all com¬ pany-owned domestic bottling plants in¬ creased 21.9 per cent over 1950. Case sales of newly-acquired company-owned bottling plants increased as much as 200 per cent over sales of previous franchise holders, it was said. Chase Buys Shotwell St. Louis — The Chase Candy Company recently purchased the Shotwell Manu¬ facturing Company, Chicago, for more than $500,000. F. S. Yantis, Chase treas¬ urer, announced that the deal transfers the good will, patents, copyrights, trade names, inventories, and company name but did not include the five-story build¬ ing, equipment, and the corporation. Yantis said that the additional candy manufacturing necessitated by the pur¬ chase of the Chicago company will be handled by the Chase plant at 4230 Gravois Avenue. The local force is to be increased by about 200 within six months, Yantis said. Substantially the same items manufac¬ tured by Shotwell in the past will continue to be available from Chase. Shipments will be made both from Chicago and from St. Louis. Frank Huebner, for many years a top executive at Shotwell, will join Chase. Pig Feet Clicks In South Atlanta — Nine Negro theatres here re¬ cently added a hot selling item to the usual candy and popcorn, and picked pig feet. On a trip to a South Georgia town, H. T. Spears, president, Bailey Circuit, noticed pig feet going over big in a the¬ atre. He added them to the food on sale in lobbies of his theatres. Spears says that his patrons now buy 4,000 pig feet weekly. Sherry Slade, daughter of Ted Slade, account executive, Umland and Company, San Francisco, advertising agents for Annabelle Candy Com¬ pany and A. S. Jaffe Company, exclusive national sales agents, Annabelle's "Rocky Road" candy bar, recently helped celebrate the first birthday "celebration" of this confection in this fashion. Canada Dry Shows Gain New York — Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Inc., reported recently that net sales for the first quarter of the new fiscal year were the highest for any three-month period in the history of the firm. They totalled $18,634,000, contrasted to $16,817,000 for the similar period of the previous fiscal year. Despite the rise in sales, the net after taxes was slightly lower, amounting to $767,500, against $772,000 for the first quarter of the preceding fiscal year. Theatre Sales $7,870,816 Washington — The Commerce Depart¬ ment reported recently that theatre cir¬ cuits bought $7,870,816 worth of candy for sale to consumers in 1950. This ac¬ counted for about 2.3 per cent of all candy sales, it was said. NAMA Sets Sept. Meeting Chicago — It was announced recently that the 1952 convention of the National Automatic Merchandising Association will be held from Sept. 14-17. Dr. Wilson Speaking Af NCA Convention Chicago — Dr. Robert E. Wilson, chair¬ man of the board, Standard Oil Company (Indiana), will address the first luncheon session of the 69th National Confection¬ ers’ Association 1952 convention and 26th Confectionery Industries Exposition, it was learned recently. Theodore Stempfel, E. J. Brach and Sons, general convention chairman, said Wilson will speak on June 3 in the Conrad Hilton Hotel. The 1952 convention opens on June I and continues through June 5. More than 100 exhibitors have reserved space for the 26th Confectionery Indus¬ tries Exposition. The tentative convention program is as follows: June 1, 5 p. m. to 7 p. m., NCA Sunday get-together. June 2, 9 a. m., annual NCA golf tour¬ nament. 11 a. m. to 8 p. m., opening of 26th Confectionery Industries Exposition. June 3, 9.30 a. m., opening of NCA 69th convention. 11 a. m. to 6 p. m., 26th Con¬ fectionery Industries Exposition. 12 noon, luncheon session, Dr. Robert E. Wilson. June 4, 9: 30 a. m., morning session. II a. m. to 8 p. m., 26th Confectionery Industries Exposition. 12 noon, luncheon session, 8 p. m., evening session. June 5, 9:30 a. m., morning session. 11 a. m. to 5 p. m., 26th Confectionery In¬ dustries Exposition. 8 p. m., NCA dinner dance. Lloyd Latten, Schutter Candy Division, Universal Match Corporation, is chairman, convention program committee. Comb Venders In FST Houses Jacksonville, Fla. — Thirty-two houses of the Florida State Theatres Circuit throughout Florida recently were equip¬ ped with comb-vending machines made by White’s Comb Vendor, Inc., Elgin, Ill. The combs sell for a dime. The machines are located in the lounges. This attractive stand at the Astor, Reading, Pa., recently won first prize in a popcorn contest conducted by the Charles Sweets Company, Philadelphia. This features three eye-striking dimensional displays. EXHIBITOR May 7, 1952