Commodities

Commodities are tough and as a minor conspiracy theorist, I believe there is constant fixing going on.


Today its Butter.  No trades in the past week and we are stuck with a weekly average from last Friday's high of 2.885.
To the average person that is 165.00 a block - For a baker its profit killing.  44% higher than last year, and 139% higher than where is should be based on the other commodity factors that go into it (feed, fuel to name a few).


My suppliers cannot justify the price, they just put me on COD to make sure they are covered at this price.


Farmers will be sure to be happy to take both this higher price and won't say a word about the continuing subsidies they will continue to take as there is no one watching both the farm subsidies and market price.


Too bad there is no bakery support, small business subsidy, to combat this.  Its just easier to let it ride and tack on higher taxes, insurance and labor cost. 


Thanks California, any other states willing to accept a small business?  I'll go.........

Minimum Wage increase - FALLOUT


I get that the cost of living in California is higher and there are benefits to living here.  But it is still a choice.
I often comment on the lack of Person Accountability that is absent in our community and country and combat it by being a living example for my family and staff.


We all have a choice on what we work for, the type of work and our ultimate success.  There is an overabundance of laws that protect workers, that now have a increasing scale of what they must be paid over the next few years. 
Our Experience since the move to $9


1) less job satisfaction for those who have worked here and now are paid the same as new hires.
So I have to pay them more for same workload, or less?
Which leads to
2) Decreased job performance (25% overall) since July 1 2014  based on $ Sales to Hours Worked.
So I do pay them more for less work!
3) Higher Workers Comp payments as the payroll is now higher - with no benefit or consideration from the WCIRB to reduce ratings based on SAME EXPERINCE with higher paid workforce.
4)the worst of all: ENTITLEMENT.  Those in the market place unwilling to work for what is now Minimum wage.  They were fine at $9 before at their old job, but want $1 more than Minimum just to say they don't make the minimum. (yes, actual quote heard several times)  And they are no better than the people doing the work now!.


So it is a dangerous slope the government imposes on Small Businesses, without regard to the Fallout reality that will occur.  With Small Business being the largest employer in the U.S., it is unacceptable to sanction us for your own political gain. 


As far as we can see in real world experience, there has been no benefit to either the Minimum wage increase nor Obama Care mandates.

Small Business owner on Welfare as employees gain Health care

What is Health care going to Reform? I get it, I have kids and we need options to care for them and cannot, should not be entitled to free health care. As a small business owner with now just over 50 employees, I need to provide a plan that conforms to thh new rules. It will cost the company about $10,500 per month and each employee no more than $131 per month. Many are oting out and forcing me into small group rates that will be more for myself and the staff. So we are encoraging the plan for better rates for all. if they opt out, tehy will be on their own and they know it. Issue is, I dont make that much and will no onger be able to afford to pay myself in an effort to cover a portion of the monthly plan. So as they gain health care, I need to apply for programs that will enable me to get my family fed healthy food. Good thing I can cook and enjoy it. Is this really progress? does the good of the many outweigh the good of the few. If they don't get care from my business, I am a gainfully employed small business owner. If they opt for the program, I am not likely to want to stay in business, making another failure story and putting all those who have been here for 16 or more years out of work on January 1, 2014. Cost savings here and there will not cover the pure cost. nor will a combination of those and tax breaks on payroll taxes. Any good ideas. One suggestion was to triple my staff and get everyone down to 32 hours and beat the system. Good option, but is that the kind of solution that will make and help me retain quality people? some of the staff have two jobs already. will they have to get four to balance it out? Mr. Federal Government, Thank you for giving us such quality options. The plan administrators as of today do not yet know the rules that will take effect in six months. So we have to make assumptions on how you will enact this program or face fines. Funny thing is that you had no problem defining the fines, but not the program for which they will apply.

SmartPeople - Not Smarter Politicians

In this great country of ours, we have been lead by some great people, with great minds and good intentions. None of the greats ever wanted to be great Politicians. That should tell us all something. When did this become a job, and such a sought after one. I always equated it to jury duty. A low pay public sector gig with too many bosses (taxpayers). So as we all let it get away from us, the career politicians found a way to make money as a salary, and get more people to pay them directly for their influence on votes. Because, in reality - your vote only goes to show them the public opinon on how they SHOULD vote. They do not ever have to do this. They will typically do what the people that pay them the most suggest they do. I would like a candidate to call me, or any other small business owner, and ask them to be an advisor. Un-paid, educated, advisor. Someone that sees the real world, grounded in fact, with the ability to share the effects their decisions not only make on their family, but all the families that their company employs. Change that, I challenge all politicians to do this. I know I don't have the stomach for a politcal job, so more power to a good person that does - and would be willing to listen to someone that did not pay them, or get paid for that matter. Maybe then we could get a civic leader that was truly in touch with the people and made sound decisions that we all could understand and identify with. I could make time for that. So, continue to support your local business, or a small business when you can. Thanks for the support.

Scary is all I have to say. I wondered why all the great tasting items of my youth were not the same. Some changed slowly over time. Some went away and came back completely different. Then, this morning I got an email update on the most searched ingredients for my industry. Here you go... 1. Cranberry Fiber - 40 Mesh 2. Bunge Ultra EIE 133 All Purpose Shortening 3. Cocoa Butter Natural Wafers And Blocks, Organic 4. Disodium Phosphate, Anhydrous (DSPA) Powder 5. Sucralow® Brand Of Sucralose 6. Carboxymethyl Cellulose(CMC) Food Grade 7. Lumisorb™ PSMS-20 K 8. HM Pectin 9. Vitasweet® APM 10. Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin I understand that there are som functional ingredietns in here, that is, ingredietns to help boost fiber and ease the sugar load (glycemic index) of products to help people. And Cocoa Butter is just fine, not the healthiest of ingredients, but it has been a by product of making cocoa for a very long time. But the bigger question is WHY. Why do we have to add Carbomethyl Cellulose (food Grade) to food we are selling to the general public. Isn't our family part of the general public? and did anyone ask what is the non-food grade version? Which canme first? Food can and should be made without items like these. Support your local baker or anyone that can cook well without these, unless you Grandmother or Mom cooked with a shaker of Disodium Phosphate, Anhydrous (DSPA) Powder next to the stove.

Sales Help

Turns out that we can bake - some really good stuff. we can also re-create and develop items to knock off other products - but with clean ingredient decks.

Can't, however, get any of these ideas to market with efficiency. So, we are looking for and agent, broker, distributor or all of these to get our product to market.

This way we can both make some money. If you can help with any of this, please let me know.
rwgray@distinctindulgence.com is the best contact.
Thanks for the continued support of the local bakery.

Not really a complaint...

...But does it really take 7 to 10 days to respond to a phone call?
I put in a product request to Kraft foodservice about a product I would like to use and the switchboard said it is at least a week to get a call back. I was brought up in a business that had a standard....Don't go home until you call EVERYONE back.
Seems that the almighty (yet rapidly declining) dollar has overruled traditons of good business and Accountability. Have to say, that I did call a LeSaffre (about their baking powder) and they responded quickly and completely within 1 day. Are they French owned?
I take pride in what I do - do you?

Ok - not really a complaint - just an observation.

at a ripe young age - I am already longing for the "good 'ol days". I am going to be hell on wheels when I get really old - you whippersnappers.

Happy Mother's Day to All the Mom's that do at least a good job. You know who you are. - and Thanks for the Support - from all the Dad's that do and OK job.

Hope the Dad's got there arses covered for this Sunday. Make your resos now or do like my brood. Get up and crank out a breakfast that will make the Mom in your house Proud (after she sleeps in). may be more of a Brunch...

Thanks for the support
www.mrsappletree.com