American Tobacco
American Brands, Inc., 1976 Annual Report
Fields
- Litigation
- 10004026
- Type
- Annual Report
- Report
- Request
- 16,
- (Set
- 2)
- 1
- (Set
- Date Loaded
- 23 Nov 1998
- Attachment
- 60116795
- Author
- American Brands Inc
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1975 sales, increasing its market share from 5% to 10%. Niemeyer's
roll-your-own tobacco and pipe tobacco account for 26% and 38%,
respectiveJy, of the market inThe Netherlands, Export sales of these
products make up 39% of NJemeyer's total.
Combined sales of Gallaher's nontobac¢o operations were
£2.69,005,000, compared with £230,076,000 in 1975, while combined
operating income was £9,593,000, against £f 1,816,000 in 1975.
Engineering operations, comprising Saunders Valve, Mono Pumps
and F.I.P. in Italy, declined. New product developments are expected
to lead to improvement in 1977 profits.
]n the optical goods and services sector Dollond & Aitchison reported
operating income of £4,816,000, against £4,165,000 in 1975, with sales
of £27,611,0O0, up 16%, Doliond International has expanded its
continental operations to 63 branches, 9 Dutch and 59 Italian.
GaHaher's wholesaling business declined 36% in operating income to
£510,000. This reflected down-trading by customers as a result of
inflationary pressures. While profits were hard hit in the first half, an
improving trend was noted in the last half of 1976,
Retailing operations, principally Forbuoys, reported operating income
of £1,356,000, compared with £1,223,000 in 1975. Sales increased 19%.
Forbuoys J n 1976 added 12 additional shops, bringing the total to 387.
On January 4, 1977, Gallaher instituted pdce increases on most
tobacco products to help absorb the impact of excise tax increases.
In 1976 the British pound stetting declined in dollar value from $2.02
to St .70, or t6%. Under current accounting rules this gave rise to
charges of $49,922,000 as Gallaher's results were translated into
dollars. Thus what would have been a $35,439,000 contribution to
American Brands' net income became, in consolidation, a net loss of
$6,483,000. (GaJlaher's ! 975 contribution to net was $37,556,000.)
Stuart G. Cart'~ fOl~
Managing Director,
Tobacco

Master Lock Company
Hyland J. Barnes
Presldentsnd
Chref E×ecutrve Officer
10
Master Lock's operating income of $20,023,000, up 13% from
$17,748,000 Jn 1975, set a record for the eleventh consecutive year.
Record sales were $53,452,090, compared with $49,307,000 in 1975.
Strong sales momentum continued in the company's line of high-
security pin tumbler padlocks, which contributed significantly to
1976's results. Armorlock (above, thfrd from left), made "tamper-
proof" by a shrouded shack]e and revolving shackle guard, was
introduced in 1975 and had excellent consumer acceptance in 1976.
This product quickly became one of the better-selling products in
Master's padlock line. Recognizing the demand for better protection,
a new ultra-high-security padlock was introduced in June. This lock
offers 6-gin-tumbler security, has a 3-inch-wide laminated case
and weighs 2~/2 pounds; sales doubled anticipated volume.
Combination and built-in locker locks showed improvement despite
restricted school budgets and a low level of new school construction.
This category was aided by a new dead-bolt built-in combination
locker look. Steady growth is anticipated for this new product.
Safes of Master Lock's burglar and smoke alarms continued to
increase in 1976, with combined sales more than double 1975. The
Ultrason-X burglar alarm plugs into a standard electrical outlet,
providing an instant security device for homes and offices. Master's
newly designed smoke alarms did well despite a proliferation of new
brands and severe price competition.
Export sales posted increases and sales in Canada, aided by a second
warehouse, were strong. With warehouses now in Vancouver and
Montreal, service to customers was improved.
Master Lock maintains an aggressive markeSng and advertlslng
program and in 1977 network TV coverage will be expanded, with
commercials appearing on nine sports spectaculars. These include
the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis 500, the Aft-Star baseball game and
the British Open Golf Tournament,

James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Beam's operating income was $18,681,000 In 1976, up 4% from the
prior year's $17,939,000. Sales were $165,031 ,o00, up 4% over 1975.
Although overall consumptTon of Bourbon declined 2% last year
according to independent analysts, Beam Bourbon increased its unit
sates and thereby further enlarged its share of the market. Jim Beam
continues as the largest-selling straight whiskey in domestic and
world markets. Beam's Chofce, 6-year-old premium Bourbon, also
contributed to the company's volume increase, as did Beam's Bicen-
tennial bottles introduced in January 1976. Beam made a further move
to compete in the higher-priced category by introducing Beam's
Choice black label, a 9g-proof whiskey aged for 100 months. Bourbon
accounts for 82% of Beam's profits.
Industry sales of scotch whisky held even with 1975 and the same was
true 1or Bell's and Spey Royal, Beam's line o1 vodkas and cordials had
higher case sales, with Dark Eyes vodka posting ~ 12% gain.
Sales of Beameister imported German wines, packaged in colorful
ceramic crocks, continued to increase. During the latter months o1
1976, Beam introduced a line of Italian wines under the Trave label.
Combined sales of non-Bourbon beverages were $27,620,000, an
increase of 5% over 1975.
To meet demand for Mr, and Mrs. "T'" Bloody Mary Mix and other
Taylor Food mixes, additional bottling facilities were brought on
stream in Clermont, Kentucky, to supplement West Coast production.
Taylor sales again increased, to $9,076,000. Regal China, which manu-
factures Beam trophy bottles and other ceramic products, increased
its sales to outsiders by 38%, to $4,633,000.
Demand for used cooperage continued slow, and the market price
continued to be low for dried grain, a by-product of the distiging
process. Profits from these secondary sources were minimal Jn 1976.
Martin Lewln
President and
Chief Opera~ing Officer
11

Sunshine Biscuits, Inc.
Suns z
I
Edward J, dennlrlgs, Jr,
President and
Chief Executive Of freer
Sunshine's operating income for 1976 reached an all-time high of
$18,402,000, up 22% from the previous year. All three divisions--
Biscuits, U.S. Snacks and Canadian Snacks--showed profit increases.
Cheez-lt and Krispy Crackers paced the increase in the cracker
segment, with Hydrox, Sugar Wafers and Vienna Fingers leading the
cookies. Sales for the Biscuit Division were $207,880,060, up
$1,762,000 over 1975. Operating income was up 16% to $13,397,000.
U.S. Snacks posted sales of $60,924,000, down 17% from the pre-
vious year. The sales decline reflected the disposal of five regional
snack operations (Baltimore, Raleigh, Louisville, Washington and
St. Louis). The two U.S. operations being retained, Bell Brands in
Los Angeles and Blue Bell in Portland, Oregon, had combined 1975
sales of $39,823,000 versus $38,890,000 in 1975. Their combined
operating income was up more than 400%, enabling the U.S. Snack
Division as a whole to show operating income of $1,567,009 as
against $433,000 the year before. Apart from the discontinuance of
the smaller marginal operations, the divislon benefited from reduced
cooking oil costs. A new natural-style potato chip and corn chip,
first introduced by Be9 Brands in Southern Californ]a= scored an
immediate success with consumers.
The Canadian Snack Division showed sales of $51,407,000, up 18%,
with operating income reaching a new high of $9,439,000, up 13%.
Distribution was extended for both Canadian labels, Humpty Dumpty
and Maple Leaf.
Combined sales for all three divisions, including partial-year sales for
discontinued operations, were $390,211 ,O00, down 1% from 1975.
Excluding the discontinued snack operations, sales were $299,110,000,
up $10,571 ,O00 or 4% over the comparable 1975 fig ure. While advertis-
ing and selling expenditures increased in a keenly competitive market,
gross profit margins increased in each of the three divisions.
12

Wilson Jones Company
Wilson Jones' operating income in 1976 was $11,481 ,go0, highest in
its history. The 1976 profit figure was 58% above 1975 (a depressed
year) and 19% above the previous high in 1974. SaTes were
$60,718,000, compared w~th $50,728,000 in 1975 and $51,881,00g
in 1974.
A new merchandising program, the Modular Merchandlsing System,
helped to achieve the strong results. MMS includes fixtures, pre-
selected and prearranged merchandise, signs, product identification
and inventory confrol--a complete system to help retail dealers move
Wilson Jones products. MMS has given sales upward momentum
that is carrying over into t 977. It has created additional outlets for
Wilson Jones products among retailers who have not previously
carried office supplies.
The Wilson Jones Division, accounting for hag the company's sales,
makes a broad line of loose-teat and other binders with related fillers
and accessories, This basic line of office supplies showed a 17%
sales increase and a 61% operating income increase in 1976, The
DataSystems Division, specializing in products to retain and retrieve
data processing printouts, showed a sales increase of 21% and
operating income up 39%. DataSystems accounts for about a quarter
of the company's sales.
Substantia[ profit increases were also posted by the GrayLine
Division, which prints standard business forms; the Perma Products
Division, which makes corrugated storage boxes; and the Standard
Diary Divlsion, which makes desk journals, appointment books and
other dated goods.
The Cooke & Cobb DNis[on, which manufactures expanding files
and wallets, showed a satisfactory sales increase but encountered
problems in high manufactu ring costs and availability of raw materials,
which bnpaired profitability until late in the year.
John P. Clark
PresTdeNtand
Chief Executive Officer
13

Swing]ine Inc,
Edward W. Whittemore
President and
Chief Operating Officer
Swingline's sales fo r 1976 were a record $136,060,000, up 11% over
1975. However, operating income declined to $16,483,000, from the
record $17,033,009 posted in 1976.
The drop in overall operating income resulted primarily from the cost
of restafflng and reorganizing Marvel Lighting Corporation, manu-
facturers of long-life incandescent lamps, acquired in December 1974.
MarvePs operating income for 1976 was $2,060,000, down from 1975's
$6,374,000. Sales declined 7% to $37,148,000 in a year of intense
competition. To strengthen its position and offset competition, Marve[
introduced a new line of office lighting products in late 1976 to be
sold through office product distributors and dealers. The impact of
this move will be felt in 1977.
The Swingline Division, responding to a recovery in demand for
office and consumer products, attained record results in 1976.
Operating income was $7,664,000 on sales of $36,159,000, represent-
ing gains of 20% and 14%, respectively. New paperwork processing
products added to 1976's results. These included new fastening
devices, restyled manual and electric staplers, a pneumatic stap6ng
work station for high-production use, new do-it-yourself products, and
a line of glue guns.
Case Cutlery, manufacturer of quality knives, shears and scissors,
achieved record saJes of $17,622,000, up from $12,687,000 in 1975.
Record operating income of $2,927,000 was up 68%. Furl operation
of the new plant in Bradford, Pennsylvania, allowed Case to step
up production for its aggressive market e×pans[on program. This
resulted in the addition of a substantial number of new retail accounts
and greater sales, tn four years as a Swingline profit center, Case has
increased sales by 127% and operating income by 263%.
14

The Marson Gorporation reported record sales of $13,638,000, up 18%
over 1975 and record operating inoome of $1,832,000, up 16%. Both
fastener and automotive products have contributed to Marson's steady
and uninterrupted growth. Several new professional products were
introduced in 1976, including Mar-Gfass for auto-body repair and
Contour, a material for repairing rusted vehicle areas.
Spotnails, manufacturer of industrial fasteners, continued to benefit
from new marketing emphasis. Operating income was a record
$1,773,000, compared with $631,000 in 1975 and $118,000 in 1974,
when the company was heavily dependent on new home construction.
A new line of air tools for packaging and home remode]ing spear-
headed the sales improvement.
Ace Fastener, manufacturer of stapling machines and staples,
reported sales of $8,050,000, up 3% over 1975. Increased costs for
tabor and raw materials, however, continued to exert pressure on
operating profits, which declined from $835,000 to $532,000. Two new
products introduced successfully in 1976 were Air Bind Center, used
to bind thick reports into book term and Prong Fastener System, for
binding varlous-sized documents.
Swingllne of Canada posted sales of $7,987,000, up 12% over 1975.
Products contributing to the increase were Marson's auto-body fillers,
rivets and tools, Swingline staplers and staples and office supplies~
Price controls in Canada, however, kept pressure on profits, which
decreased 10%,
15

Acushnet Company
Richard B. Young
Ptesidentand
Chief Execvtive Officer
American Brands' consolidated figures for 1976 include the resuIts of
Acushnet Company from April 4, 1976.
Aeushnet contributed $7,729,000 to 1976 operating income and
$68,550,006 to sales. For the full year, operating income was a record
$10,403,009, on a new high in sales of $90,203,600, up 8% and 15%,
respectively, over 1975.
in addition to the famous Titleist golf bali, the Golf Division markets
a line of quality golf products through pro shops. This includes golf
clubs, bags, putters, cads, gloves and headeovers. Golf bags are also
sold under the Finalist and Club Special brand names.
For calendar 1976, the Golf Division posted operating income of
$5,770,000 on sales of $55,117,0OO, compared with $6,936,000 and
$50,717,000, respectively, in the prior year. Although gains in sales
were recorded for golf bails and bags, excessive industry wide
inventories eradicated the division's golf club profits,
Acushnet's Rubber Division had record results in calendar 1976, with
operating income of $4,663,000 and sales of $35,066,090, gains of 73%
and 25%, respectively, over the previous record results of 1975. The
division specializes in the manufacture of molded natura] and
synthetic rubber products for a wide variety of industries, with
approximately 40% of sales to the automotive industry.
Acushnet Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, attained greater
distribution of the company's golf products in the United Kingdom
and Europe.
16

American Cigar
®
American Cigar's 1976 operating income was $6,352,000, compared
with $6,226,000 in 1975. Thls gain was achieved despite a sales dip to
$49,901 ,gog from $51,219,000 in 1975. Profit margins in 1976 benefited
from the addition o1 highly automated cigar-making equipment which
reduced costs and increased productlv[ly.
The domestic cigar industry in 1976 experienced its sixth consecutive
year of decline in unit sales Overall divisional unit sales declined,
but at a lesser rate than the industry, resulting in an increased market
share for American Cigar.
Antonio y Cleopatra sales continued to run counter to the industry
trend for large cigars and recorded the brand's fifteenth consecutive
year of increased unit volume. In 1976 Antonio y Cleopatra was
the divislon's leading sales and profit producer, accounting for more
than half the division's dollar sales. Major marketing emphasis
continues to be placed on this brand, with advertising featuring
Grenadiers, Panetelas, Sabers and Saber Tips.
La Corona Imported Cigars, handmade in Nicaragua, were introduced
in the New York area at the start of 1976. This high-prlced product,
comparable in quality to fine Havanas of the pre-Castro era, was well
received and distribution was achieved by year-end in all major
markets. To meet consumer preference two new shapes are being
added to the line.
Unit sales of Roi-Tan, Beck y C~. and Cabafias all declined in 1976.
Little cigars also declined in line with the industry trend; American
Cigar's brands in this segment include A&C, Roi-Tan and Deringer
High-grade smoking tobaccos marketed by the division include
Blue Boar, a domestic mixture, and Skallorna, an imported premium
price Danish mixture. Starting in March 1977 the division will also
handle the importation and sale in the U.S, of the Dutch pipe tobacco
brands, Sail, Flying Dutchman and Clan.
Alvin Bemstein
President
17

The Andrew Jergens Company
Kenneth C. Schuster
Ptesidentand
Chief Executive Officer
Jergens' operating income for 1979 was $5,896,000, an increase of
47% over 1975. AII divisions of the company--domestic cosmetics,
domestic soap, subsidiaries and international--contributed to the gain,
Sales were $74,073,000, an increase of $6,594,000 over the previous
year. Domestic cosmetics, including hand-care products, accounted
for about half of Jergens' dollar sales and showed a 23% increase.
Jergens' Canadian subsidiary increased sales 6% to $5,334,090.
Sugar Beet Products Co. and its Canadian subsidiary, Chemical By-
Products, Ltd., showed sales of $5,889,900, up 18%; these companies
make and seJl industrial skin cleansers. Albert Verley & Company and
its French subsidiary, Arornesee'nce, creators of fragrance and flavor
compounds, posted sales of $3,311,990, a gain of 38%. As a group,
Jergens' subsidiaries and international division showed a 37% gain in
operating income on sales of $16,993,000, up 17%.
New products introduced in the last three years, including Gee,
Your Hair Srnefls Terrifio Shampoo and Conditioner, Nature Scents
Soaps and Bath Beads, Barbie Toiletries and Jergens Pre-Heat Hair
Conditioner, accounted for 27% of 1976 domestic sales, or $15,571 ,O0O.
The most successful of these new products is Gee, Your Hair Smells
Terrific, which achieved sales of nearly $5,000,000 in its second fuFI
year on the market. The research and development program is
continuing with a variety of new products being market tested.
Hand care products, Jergens' original specialty, registered a sales
increase of 9% ; these include Jergens Lotion, Jergens Extra Dry
Skin Formula and Jergens Direct Aid. Soap sales were down, reacting
to competdive new brand introductions.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased as a result of
productivity improvements, and distrib~tion of Jergens products in
the marketplace was improved through the addition of brokers
and the reorganization of the Sales and Sales Promotion Departments.
18
