In an effort to increase the number of shoppers coming into its stores and the length of time those shoppers stay, Kohls (KSS (Links to an external site.)) is adding a small caf (Kohls Caf) to each of two of its department stores in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Each caf will sell Caribou Coffee items including lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee items. Granola bars, chips, cookies, and other grab-and-go snacks will also be available. These cafs are experimental at this point; Kohls has no plans to add the cafs to other stores.

Questions

1. What type of responsibility center would the Kohls Caf within a given store be (cost center, revenue center, profit center, or investment center)?
2. What costs do you think could be traced directly to a caf in a given store?
3. Assume that Kohls wants to evaluate the profitability (performance) of a caf within a given store. What, if any, costs should be allocated to the caf? Explain your answer.