Superior Markets, Inc., operates three stores in a large metropolitan area. A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is given below:

Superior Markets, Inc. Income Statement For the Quarter Ended September 30
	Total			North Store			South Store			East Store
Sales	$	3,800,000		$	760,000		$	1,520,000		$	1,520,000
Cost of goods sold		2,090,000			420,000			834,000			836,000
Gross margin		1,710,000			340,000			686,000			684,000
Selling and administrative expenses:
Selling expenses:		833,000			239,400			319,000			274,600
Administrative expenses		423,000			114,000			162,900			146,100
Total expenses		1,256,000			353,400			481,900			420,700
Net operating income (loss)	$	454,000		$	(13,400	)	$	204,100		$	263,300

The North Store has consistently shown losses over the past two years. For this reason, management is giving consideration to closing the store. The company has asked you to make a recommendation as to whether the store should be closed or kept open. The following additional information is available for your use:

a.	The breakdown of the selling and administrative expenses is as follows:

	Total		North Store		South Store		East Store
Selling expenses:
Sales salaries	$	248,200	$	59,000	$	87,800	$	101,400
Direct advertising		173,000		59,000		80,000		34,000
General advertising*		57,000		11,400		22,800		22,800
Store rent		300,000		93,000		110,000		97,000
Depreciation of store fixtures		20,000		5,400		6,800		7,800
Delivery salaries		23,400		7,800		7,800		7,800
Depreciation of delivery equipment		11,400		3,800		3,800		3,800
Total selling expenses	$	833,000	$	239,400	$	319,000	$	274,600

*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars.

	Total		North Store		South Store		East Store
Administrative expenses:
Store management salaries	$	82,000	$	25,000	$	34,000	$	23,000
General office salaries*		57,000		11,400		22,800		22,800
Insurance on fixtures and inventory		33,000		9,900		13,000		10,100
Utilities		94,410		33,220		32,240		28,950
Employment taxes		61,590		15,480		22,860		23,250
General office other*		95,000		19,000		38,000		38,000
Total administrative expenses	$	423,000	$	114,000	$	162,900	$	146,100

*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars.

b.	The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty.
c.	The fixtures being used in the North Store would be transferred to the other two stores if the North Store were closed.
d.	The general manager of the North Store would be retained and transferred to another position in the company if the North Store were closed. She would be filling a position that would otherwise be filled by hiring a new employee at a salary of $10,400 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would be retained at her normal salary of $11,400 per quarter. All other employees in the store would be discharged.
e.	The company has one delivery crew that serves all three stores. One delivery person could be discharged if the North Store were closed. This persons salary is $4,800 per quarter. The delivery equipment would be distributed to the other stores. The equipment does not wear out through use, but does eventually become obsolete.
f.	The companys employment taxes are 15% of salaries.
g.	One-third of the insurance in the North Store is on the stores fixtures.
h.	The General office salaries and General officeother relate to the overall management of Superior Markets, Inc. If the North Store were closed, one person in the general office could be discharged because of the decrease in overall workload. This persons compensation is $5,700 per quarter.

Required:
1.	Prepare a schedule showing the change in revenues and expenses and the impact on the companys overall net operating income that would result if the North Store were closed. (Any losses/ reductions should be indicated by a minus sign.)

2.

Based on your computations in (1) above, what recommendation would you make to the management of Superior Markets, Inc.?

	The North Store should be closed.
	The North Store should not be closed.

3.

Assume that if the North Store were closed, at least one-fourth of its sales would transfer to the East Store, due to strong customer loyalty to Superior Markets. The East Store has enough capacity to handle the increased sales. You may assume that the increased sales in the East Store would yield the same gross margin as a percentage of sales as present sales in that store.

a.	Calculate the net advantage of closing the North Store. (Any reductions or outflows should be indicated by a minus sign.)

b.

What recommendation would you make to the management of Superior Markets, Inc.?

	The North Store should be closed.
	The North Store should not be closed.