EETAIL MARKETING OF MEATS 
45 
making a total amount of $5,669,528.69 sales of meats and $20,612,- 
184.29 sales of groceries on which the comparative gross margin *is 
available. For several of these systems similar data are available 
for 1920 and 1921 as well as for 1-919. (See Tables 27 and 38.) 
In eight combination stores with total sales of meats of $3,239,- 
160.28 and total sales of groceries of $4,828,557.62, data were obtained 
for groceries separately, permitting comparisons of the gross margin 
for both meats and groceries in the same concerns. In several of 
these concerns similar data were obtained for 1920 and 1921 in addi- 
tion to 1919. (See Tables 27 and 38.) 
The total figures for individual concerns and chain systems in 
which a comparison of gross margin or spread between wholesale 
and retail prices can be made for 1919 include meat sales of a total 
amount of $8,908,688.97 and grocery sales of a total amount of 
$25,440,741.91. For smaller amounts the comparison can be made 
for 1920 and 1921. (See Tables 27 and 38.) 
Table 24. — Character of accounting records kept by retail meat dealers 
Type of store 
Double 
entry 
Single entry 
Mere memo- 
randa 
None 
Total report- 
ing 
Total 
num- 
ber 
of 
stores 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Straight meat markets, 
including stalls in 
public markets 
Combination meat and 
grocery stores 
66 
105 
6.55 
5.24 
169 
315 
16.78 
15.71 
607 
1,345 
60.28 
67.08 
165 
240 
16.39 
11.97 
1,007 
2,005 
100 
100 
1,169 
2,251 
Table 24 reflects conditions obtaining in the early part of 1920. 
The total number of stores selling fresh meats found in the districts 
completely canvassed was 3,641, of which 3,504 were located in 
urban districts and 137 in rural districts. This number of 3,641 
included 1,169 straight meat markets and stalls in public markets, 
2,251 combination meat and grocery stores and general stores, 214 
chain-store branches, and 7 meat sections in department stores. In- 
formation regarding accounting records kept was not obtained in 
four small southern cities with 59 straight meat markets and 5 com- 
bination stores, and information on this point was not reported from 
103 straight meat markets and 241 combination stores in the other 
districts completely canvassed. Probably very few of these had 
complete records. 
Table 25. — Volume of operations of individual concerns furnishing complete 
accounting data, 1919 
Type of store 
Number 
of stores 
Sales of meats 
Sales of meats 
and groceries 
Straight meat markets with family trade: 
133 
.24 
$5, 625, 590. 34 
12, 792, 085. 16 
8, 195, 590. 64 
Straight meat markets with family and restaurant trade 
230 
55 
26, 613, 266. 14 
Combination stores.., _. -- -- .- 
$11,360,831.86 
