ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Creative Bakeries, Inc. ("Creative"), offers a broad line of premium quality
pastries, cakes, pies, cookies and other assorted desserts which are produced at
its baking facility. Such baked goods are marketed and distributed on a
wholesale basis to supermarkets, restaurants, and institutional dining
facilities.
Creative was incorporated in November 1993. The Company's executive offices are
located at 20 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ 07004 and its telephone number is
(973) 808-8248.
The company had two subsidiaries. The sale of William Greenberg Jr. subsidiary
was completed in November 1998. From the remaining subsidiary known as Batter
Bake - Chatterley (BBC), the company sold the Batter Bake business in December
2001. The Company changed it's name to Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Company
in March 2002.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's business strategy is comprised of the following:
Institutional/Wholesale: The Company plans to increase its penetration in the
institutional/wholesale food market by expanding its marketing efforts to
restaurants, hotels and corporate dining facilities and by offering its products
to supermarkets on a national basis. The Company plans to expand both its
product line and geographic distribution through the following strategies:
Expand geographic distribution by acquiring new food distributors in the
Connecticut and Philadelphia areas as well as key distributor areas throughout
the United States. To do this, the Company intends to appoint food brokers in
various states to handle sales on a commission-only basis.
Continue to expand the fat-free product line targeting existing customers as
well as new customers; and
Enter into co-packing arrangements whereby the Company would introduce private
label products of other bakery operations.
Kosher Foods. The Company also is seeking to benefit from the growth of the
kosher food industry. According to Prepared Foods, the kosher food industry
generated approximately $33 billion in sales in 1994 and has been growing at a
rate of approximately 15% per annum. The company's Brooklyn Cheesecake and
Desserts Subsidiary has a kosher certification and the Company believes that it
can benefit from the projected growth of this market.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
High Quality Ingredients. The Company believes that developing and maintaining
premium quality products is the key to its future success. The Company uses the
highest quality ingredients in its products including, AA creamy butter, whole
eggs, premium fruits, nuts, and chocolates blended for the Company's unique
recipes. The Company seeks to maintain rigorous standards for freshness,
quality, and consistency.
Customer Service. The Company's goal is to provide its customers with warm,
courteous and efficient service. The Company depends on and enjoys a high rate
of repeat business. The Company believes that the quality of the relationship
between its employees and its customers is critical to its success. The Company
strives to hire and train well-qualified, highly motivated employees committed
to providing superior levels of customer service.
PRODUCTS
Baked Goods
The Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Company Subsidiary markets a full line of
premium quality baked products such as cheese cakes, mousse cakes and tart
shells as well a complete gourmet line of muffins. The Company continues to
develop new products and welcomes customer requests.
Kosher Foods
Kosher foods generally are consumed by persons of the Jewish faith as well as
Muslims, Seven Day Adventists and others who perceive kosher certification as a
seal of purity. Kosher is a biblical term originally used to denote that which
is "fit" and "proper".
The Company's subsidiary has kosher certification and the Company believes that
it can capitalize on the projected growth of this market. The Company believes
that its kosher certifications will enable it to better penetrate certain market
areas. The Company's products are not kosher for Passover.
CUSTOMERS
The Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Company Subsidiary sells its products
through food distributors to hotels, hospitals and institutional feeders such as
corporate caters, restaurants, coffee shops etc. The products are also sold
retail through food distributors and direct to supermarket distribution centers.
INGREDIENTS AND PRINCIPAL SUPPLIERS
The Company seeks to use only the highest quality ingredients available. The
Company has a policy of inspecting all raw ingredients before their intended
use.
The ingredients used by the Company consist primarily of flour, eggs, sugar,
butter and chocolate. All ingredients used by the Company are subject to
substantial price fluctuations. The Company historically has been able to pass
any significant price increases in its ingredients through to its customers.
However, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to continue
this practice in the future. Any substantial increase in the prices of
ingredients used by the Company could, if not offset by a corresponding increase
in product prices, have a material adverse effect on its business, financial
condition or results of operations. The Company does not believe the loss of any
of its suppliers would have a material adverse effect on its business and
believes that other suppliers could readily provide such products if necessary.
DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
The Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Subsidiary bakes all of its products in its
30,000 square foot facility in Fairfield, New Jersey. Although utilization of
the facility varies based on seasonal fluctuation, the facility operates on five
days a week basis. The Company believes that the Brooklyn Cheesecake and
Desserts Company Subsidiary has the capacity to meet future requirements,
including those arising out of the consolidation with the Company. The Brooklyn
Cheesecake and Desserts Company Subsidiary delivers 90% of its products by
common carrier trucks to its institutional/wholesale customers. About 10% of its
customers pick up their orders directly at the bakery and utilize their own
distribution networks.
Historically, the Company has relied upon word-of-mouth and customer
satisfaction to market its products to new customers and to make existing
customers aware of new products.
COMPETITION
The baking industry is a highly competitive and highly fragmented industry. The
Company competes with national, regional and local bakeries as well as
supermarket chains that have in-store bakeries. Many of these competitors are
larger, more established and have greater financial and other resources than the
Company. Competition in both the retail and institutional/wholesale baking
industry is based on product quality, brand name loyalty, price and customer
service.
TRADEMARKS
The JMS Subsidiary has a trademark and design registered with the United States
Patent and Trademark office for The Healthy BakeryTM (US Registration No.
1,644,559). While the Company believes that the trademarks are valid and
enforceable, there can be no assurance as to the degree of protection its
registered trademarks will afford the Company.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The Company is subject to numerous state regulations relating to the preparation
and sale of food. It is also subject to federal and state laws governing the
Company's relationship with employees, including minimum wage requirements,
overtime, working and safety conditions, and citizenship requirements. The
failure to obtain or retain required food licenses or to be in compliance with
applicable governmental regulations, or any increase in the minimum wage rate,
employee benefits costs (including costs associated with mandated health
insurance coverage) or other costs associated with employees, could adversely
affect the business, results of operations or financial condition of the
Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of March 26, 2003, the Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Company Subsidiary
together with Creative had approximately 32 full-time employees, of which 30 are
employed in production, and 1 in administration and 1 in an executive position.
The Brooklyn Cheesecake and Desserts Company Subsidiary does not have a union
and the Company believes that it has good relations with its employees.