Question

Cotrone Beverages makes energy drinks in three flavors: Original, Strawberry, and Orange. Company is currently operating at 75 percent of capacity. Worried about the company's performance, the company president is considering dropping the Strawberry flavor. If Strawberry is dropped, the revenue associated with it would be lost and the related variable costs saved. In addition, the company’s total fixed costs would be reduced by 20 percent.

Segmented income statements appear as follows:

Product Original Strawberry Orange
Sales $65,200 $85,600 $102,400
Variable costs 44,000 77,200 80,200
Contribution margin $21,200 $8,400 $22,200
Fixed costs allocated to each product line 9,400 12,000 14,200
Operating profit (loss) $11,800 $(3,600) $8,000

Required:

a. Prepare a differential cost schedule.
b. Should Cotrone drop the Strawberry product line?

Answer 1

Yes Strawberry line should be dropped as it reduces the overall profit by$ 3600 when the fixed costs are not 20 %

Yes Strawberry line should be dropped as it reduces the overall profit by$ 1720 even when the fixed costs are 20 %

Step-by-step explanation:

Cotrone Beverages

Differential Analysis

Totals Totals Difference / Change

including (less) Without (equals)

Strawberry Strawberry

Sales 253,200 167,600 85600 Decrease

Variable costs 201,400 124,200 77200 Decrease

Fixed costs allocated 35,600 28,480 7120 Decrease

Operating profit (loss) 13,200 14,920 (1720) Increase

Working

Total Fixed Costs Reduced will be = 35,600 *20%= 7120

Here we see the profit is increased by 1720 therefore strawberry line should be dropped.

Cotrone Beverages

Differential Analysis

Totals Totals Difference / Change

including (less) Without (equals)

Strawberry Strawberry

Sales 253,200 167,600 85600 Decrease

Variable costs 201,400 124,200 77200 Decrease

Contribution margin 51,800 43,400 8,400 Decrease

Fixed costs allocated 35,600 23,600 12000 Decrease

Operating profit (loss) 13,200 16,800 (3,600) Increase

Yes Strawberry line should be dropped as it reduces the overall profit by$ 3600

Working

We find the totals with and without the strawberry product line and then subtract to find the differential costs

Cotrone Beverages

Product Original Strawberry Orange Total

Sales $65,200 $85,600 $102,400 253,200

Variable costs 44,000 77,200 80,200 201,400

Contribution margin $21,200 $8,400 $22,200 51,800

Fixed costs allocated 9,400 12,000 14,200 35,600

Operating profit (loss) $11,800 $(3,600) $8,000 13,200

If we drop the strawberry line then the new totals would be

Product Original Orange Total

Sales $65,200 $102,400 167,600

Variable costs 44,000 80,200 124,200

Contribution margin $21,200 $22,200 43,400

Fixed costs allocated 9,400 14,200 23,600

Operating profit (loss) $11,800 $8,000 16,800