Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-KSB contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact should be considered "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions, including statements that include projections of, or expectations about, earnings, revenues or other financial items, statements about our plans and objectives for future operations, statements concerning proposed new products or services, statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, statements concerning our expectations regarding the attraction and retention of customers, statements about market risk and statements underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of such terminology as "may," "will," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "potential," or "continue," or the negative thereof or other similar words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations or any of our forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments are likely to be different from, and may be materially different from, those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.
(a) Business Development
Paradise, Inc., was incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida in September, 1961 as Canaveral Utilities and Development Corporation. After the acquisition and merger of several other assets, the Corporation was renamed Paradise Fruit Company, Inc. in February, 1964, and the corporate name was changed again to Paradise, Inc. during July, 1993. There have been no bankruptcies, receiverships, or similar proceedings during the corporation's history. There have been no material reclassifications, mergers, consolidations, purchases or sales of a significant amount of assets not in the ordinary course of business during the past three years.
(b) The Company's operations are conducted through two business segments. These segments, and the primary operations of each, are as follows:
BUSINESS SEGMENT OPERATION
Candied Fruit Production of candied fruit, a basic fruitcake ingredient, sold to manufacturing bakers, institutional users, and retailers for use in home baking. Also, based on market conditions, the processing of frozen strawberry products for sale to commercial and institutional users such as preservers, dairies, drink manufacturers, etc.
Molded Plastics Production of plastic containers for the Company's products and other molded plastics for sale to unaffiliated customers.
For further segment information, refer to Note 13 in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report.
The Company knows of no other manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere whose sales of glace' (candied) fruit is equal to those of Paradise, Inc. While there are no industry statistics published, from the generally reliable sources available, management believes that Company brands account for a large majority of all candied fruit sold in supermarkets and other grocery outlets in the USA.
In terms of candied fruit dollar sales, during 2005, approximately 20% were shipped to manufacturing bakers and other institutional users, with the balance being sold through supermarkets and other retail outlets for ultimate use in the home.
Sales to retail outlets are usually generated through registered food brokers operating in exclusively franchised territories. This method of distribution is widely accepted in the food industry because of its efficiency and economy.
The principal raw materials used by the Company are fruits, fruit peels, corn syrups and plastic resins. Most of these materials are readily accessible from a number of competitive suppliers. The supply and prices may fluctuate with growing and crop conditions, factors common to all agricultural products. Feed stocks for some plastic resins are petroleum related and may be subject to supply and demand fluctuations in this market. The trademarks "Paradise", "Dixie", "Mor-Fruit" and "Sun-Ripe" are registered with the appropriate Federal and State authorities for use on the Company's candied fruit. These registrations are kept current, as required, and have a value in terms of customer recognition. The Company is also licensed to use the trademarks "White Swan", "Queen Anne", "Palm Beach", "Golden Crown," and "Pennant" in the sale of candied fruit.
The demand for fruit cake materials is highly seasonal, with over 85% of sales in these items occurring during the months of September, October and November. However, in order to meet delivery requirements during this relatively short period, the Company must process candied fruit and peels for approximately ten months during the year. Also, the Company must acquire the fruits used as raw materials during their seasonal growing periods. These factors result in large inventories, which require financing to meet relatively large short-term working capital needs.
During 1993, and through another wholly owned subsidiary, the Company I-2 Item 1. Description of Business (Continued)
launched an enterprise for the growing and selling of strawberries, both fresh and frozen. Plant City, Florida, the location of the Company's manufacturing facilities and main office, styles itself as the "The Winter Strawberry Capital" because of the relatively large volume of fruit that is grown and harvested locally, mostly from December through April of each season. However, once competing fresh berries from the West Coast of the USA begin finding their way to market, the price of Florida fruit begins to diminish, and local growers had no other market for their product.
While there are significant freight cost advantages in the sale and marketing of local strawberries to customers in the eastern U.S., growers and producers on the West Coast, from southern California to Washington state, still dominate pricing and marketing conditions. The Company estimates more than 90% of total U.S. strawberry production is located in that area.
Therefore, Paradise, Inc. limits its activities in this market to years in which basic supply and demand statistics, such as West Coast harvest predictions and frozen strawberry prior year inventory carryovers, lead to a reasonable anticipation of profitability.
In the plastics molding segment of business, sales to unaffiliated customers continue to strengthen. This trend began several years ago when management shifted its focus from the sale of high volume, low profit "generics" to higher technology value added custom applications.
Some molded plastics container demand is seasonal, by virtue of the fact that a substantial portion of sales are made to packers of food items and horticultural interests, with well defined growing and/or harvest seasons.
In the opinion of management, the seasonal nature of some plastics sales does not have a significant impact upon the working capital requirements of the Company.
During the first several months of the year, the Company contracts with certain commercial bakers for future delivery of quantities representing a substantial portion of the sales of fruit cake materials to institutional users. Deliveries against these contracts are completed prior to the close of the fiscal year ending December 31.
Many of the commercial bakers and other institutional accounts face the same seasonal demands as the Company, and must contend with similar short-term working capital needs. The Company accommodates some of these customers with extended payment terms of up to ninety days.
By the same token, many suppliers offer similar extended payment terms to the Company.
It is a trade practice to allow some supermarket chains to return unopened cases of candied fruit products that remain unsold at year-end, an option for which they normally pay a premium. A provision for the estimated losses on retail returns is included in the Company's financial I-3 Item 1. Description of Business (Continued)
statements, for the year during which the sales are made.
With the continuing acquisitions, mergers and other consolidations in the supermarket industry, there is increasing concentration of candied fruit buying activity. During 2005, the Company derived nearly 13% of its consolidated revenues from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. This customer is not affiliated with Paradise, Inc. in any way, and has exclusive use of a Paradise-owned controlled brand. In addition, plastics sales to Aqua Cal, Inc. accounted for 16% of the Company's consolidated revenues. The loss of any of these customers would have a material adverse effect on operating earnings.
While there is no industry-wide data available, management estimates that the Company sold approximately 65-75% of all candied fruits and peels consumed in the U.S. during 2005. The Company knows of two major competitors; however, it estimates that none of these has as large a share of the market as the Company's.
The molded plastics industry is very large and diverse, and management has no reasonable estimate of its total size. Many products produced by the Company are materials for its own use in the packaging of candied fruits for sale at the retail level. Outside sales represent approximately 80% of the Company's total plastics production at cost, and, in terms of the overall market, are insignificant.
In the above business segments, it is the opinion of management that price, which is to include the cost of delivery, is the largest single competitive factor, followed by product quality and customer service.
Given the above competitive criteria, it is the opinion of management, that the Company is in a favorable position.
During recent years, the Company has made capital investments of over $1 million in order to comply with the growing body of environmental regulations. These have included the building of screening and pretreatment facilities for water effluent, the redesign and rebuilding of one processing department in order to improve the control of the quality of air emissions, and removing underground fuel storage tanks to approved above ground locations. All of these facilities are permitted by governmental authorities at various levels, and are subjected to periodic testing as a condition of permit maintenance and renewal. All required permitting is currently in effect, and the Company is in full compliance with all terms and conditions stated therein.
By local ordinance, it is required that all water effluent is metered, tested and discharged into a municipal industrial waste treatment plant. During 2005, costs for this discharge exceeded $300,000, and management estimates that all expenses directly related to compliance with environmental regulations total well over $400,000 annually, which includes costs for permits, third party inspections and depreciation of installations.
The Company employs between 140 and 275 people, depending upon the season. I-4 Item 1. Description of Business (Continued)
The Company conducts operations principally within the United States. Foreign activities are not material.
Paradise, Inc (PARF) - Description of business
|
More
Summary
Research Report
Description
Level 2 quotes
Charts
News
Profile
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Insiders
SEC Filings
Analyst Recommendation
Earnings Report
Historical Prices
Recent Material Events
Key executives
Comments
Research Report
Description
Level 2 quotes
Charts
News
Profile
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Insiders
SEC Filings
Analyst Recommendation
Earnings Report
Historical Prices
Recent Material Events
Key executives
Comments


