Question

Toxemia Salsa Corporation manufactures five flavors of salsa. Last year, Toxemia generated net operating income of $40,000. The following information was taken from last year's income statement segmented by flavor (brackets indicate a negative amount):
Wimpy Mild Medium Hot Atomic
Contribution margin $(2000) $45,000 $35,000 $50,000 $162,000
Segment margin $(16,000) $(5000) $7000 $10,000 $94,000
Segment margin less allocated common fixed expenses
$(26,000) $(15,000) $(3000) $0 $84,000

Toxemia expects similar operating results for the upcoming year.
If Toxemia wants to maximize its profitability in the upcoming year, which flavor or flavors should Toxemia discontinue?

Answer 1

Answer:

We should discontinue Wimpy and we will be saving $2,000 as addition to the Net Margin.

Fixed Expenses will be incurred whether we produce or not, thus the deciding factor is a segment being able to generate a positive Contribution Margin.

By discontinuing Wimpy the allocated Fixed Expense will go up to $12,500 Per active unit from $10,000. Although Wimpy will yet retain its Fixed Expense.

Explanation:

Toxemia Salsa Corporation

Segment Review

A.

Wimpy

Contribution Margin = -$2,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$14,000

Segment Margin = -$16,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$10,000

Net Segment Margin = -$26,000

B.

Mild

Contribution Margin = $45,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$50,000

Segment Margin = -$5,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$10,000

Net Segment Margin = -$15,000

C.

Medium

Contribution Margin = $35,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$28,000

Segment Margin = $7,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$10,000

Net Segment Margin = -$3,000

D.

Hot

Contribution Margin = $50,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$40,000

Segment Margin = $10,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$10,000

Net Segment Margin = -$0

E.

Hot

Contribution Margin = $162,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$68,000

Segment Margin = $94,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$10,000

Net Segment Margin = -$84,000

F.

Total of flavors

Contribution Margin = $290,000

Less Fixed Expense = -$200,000

Segment Margin = $90,000

Less Allocated Fixed Expense = -$50,000

Net Segment Margin = $40,000

Benchmark of Flavors

If we stop to produce Wimpy we would save $2,000 assuming we will yet incur the segment Fixed Expense of $14,000 in any case (decision: Discontinue)

If we stop to produce Mild we would lose $45,000 assuming we will yet incur the segment Fixed Expense of $50,000 in any case (decision: Continue)

If we stop to produce Medium we would lose $35,000 assuming we will yet incur the segment Fixed Expense of $28,000 in any case (decision: Continue)

If we stop to produce Hot we would lose $50,000 assuming we will yet incur the segment Fixed Expense of $40,000 in any case (decision: Continue)

If we stop to produce Atomic we would lose $162,000 assuming we will yet incur the segment Fixed Expense of $68,000 in any case (decision: Continue)