MARGINS, EXPENSES, AND PROFITS IN RETAILING MEAT 49 
RETAIL CHAIN STORES 
The chain-store data collected during this survey were almost 
entirely limited to the cities in which figures from individual retail 
meat markets were obtained. 
Data were obtained from a few chain-store units, which were 
operated outside these cities, but the number of such was small. It 
was not intended that a survey should be made of chain-store opera- 
tions, but rather that only such information should be collected as 
would permit of an approximate comparison with individual stores 
operating in the same localities. The chain-store data collected were, 
therefore, exceedingly limited, and served to show the operation of 
individual chain stores rather than of the chain-store group as a 
whole. 
STRAIGHT MEAT MARKETS 
Data covering the operation of four stores of a straight meat 
carr}^ chain-store system during 1923 are presented in Table 18. 
For obvious reasons the sales volumes and location of these stores 
are not given. The gross margin percentages of these stores were 
slightly higher than those of individual retail meat markets. Total 
expense percentages were lower in stores B and C than in individual 
carr}^ stores of the same volumes of sales and located in the same 
section. In stores A and D, total expense percentages were about 
the same as in individual carry stores of the same sales volumes. 
Table 18. — Margins, expenses, and profits in four units of a straight meat 
chain-store carry system, 1923 a 
[Expressed as percentages of net sales] 
Item 
Store A 
Store B 
Store C 
Store D 
Gross margin 
Total expense 
Profit 
Shop wages 
Rent 
Wrappings 
Refrigeration 
Light and power. 
Depreciation 
Telephone 
Laundry 
Advertising 
Other expense 
23.13 
20.46 
2.67 
9.78 
2.89 
1.19 
1.44 
.36 
.27 
.25 
.35 
1.19 
2.74 
23.51 
15.96 
7.55 
7.17 
2.17 
.96 
.65 
.21 
.23 
.21 
.17 
1.51 
2.68 
22.67 
15. 55 
7.12 
8.07 
1.34 
.91 
.24 
.26 
.10 
.21 
1.24 
2.49 
28.16 
18.59 
9.57 
9.16 
3.52 
1.31 
.48 
.13 
.32 
.12 
.32 
1.85 
1.38 
1 Stores arranged in order of increasing sales volumes. Store A had the smallest sales volume. 
The effect of increasing volume in decreasing margin and expense 
percentages was observed in the cases of stores A, B, and C. The 
figures of store D were not altogether comparable with the other 
three stores. This store was located in an important section of 
the city, where rents were higher but where the possibilities of 
attracting trade through an accessible location were good. The 
higher cost of obtaining this additional business was plainly apparent 
from the increased expense ratios. Wages, rent, wrappings, depre- 
ciation, and advertising all showed the relatively greater expendi- 
tures required in order to attract trade to this store. 
