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Kroger, Safeway Inc., and Whole Foods Markets, Inc. are three grocery chains in

ID: 2478619 • Letter: K

Question

Kroger, Safeway Inc., and Whole Foods Markets, Inc. are three grocery chains in the United States. Inventory management is an important aspect of the grocery retail business. Recent balance sheets for these three companies indicated the following merchandise inventory

The cost of goods sold for each company was:

Determine the number of days’ sales in inventory (use 365 days and round to the nearest day) and the inventory turnover for the three companies. Round all interim calculations to one decimal place. For number of days' sales in inventory, round final answers to the nearest day, and for inventory turnover, round to one decimal .

b. If Kroger had Whole Foods’ number of days’ sales in inventory, how much additional cash flow would have been generated from the smaller inventory relative to its actual average inventory position? Round interim calculations to one decimal place and your final answer to the nearest million.

End of Year (in millions) Beginning of Year (in millions) Kroger $5,114 $4,966 Safeway 2,470 2,623 Whole Foods 374 337

Explanation / Answer

Average Inventory

Kroger = $4,966+$5,114 =$10,080/2=$5,040

Safeway=$2,623+$2,470=$5,093/2=$2546.50

Whole Foods=337+374=711/2=$355.50

AVerage Invntory /CoGS *365

Kroger=$5,040/$71,494 *365

=26 days

Safeway=$2546.50 /31,837*365

=29 days

Whole Foods=$355.50 /11,699*365

=11. days

Inventory Turnover = COGS / Average Inventory

Kroger=$71,494 /$5,040

=14.18

Safeway= 31,837 /$2546.50

=12.5

Whole Foods=11,699 /$355.50

=32.90

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b)Whole Foods =AVerage Inventory of   Whole Foods / Inventory Turnover Ratio of Kroger

=$355.50 /14.18

=$25

AVerage inventory =$355.50 - $25

=$330.50(pro forma average inventory)

Proforma basis

AVerage is $330.50

Opening is $337

Ending =$324

Actual basis

OPening = 337

Ending = 374

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difference =37

Difference from proforma = $337 - $324

=$13

Difference = 37+13

=$50 million

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