hangon
- 29 Jan 2007 11:19
Loseley Ice-cream
Currently (up from a real Low), at 2.25p to Buy.
This co had earlier combined a few well-known brands (well, I know Loseley* Ices) and built a new factory in S.Wales to make own-label (for supermarkets?) and their own brands - - with the addition of two new execs - one is ex Heinz-Frozen and the other has put his own money in (subject to an EGM this appears to be 1m as a loan and a further 200k in shares), which will give them some working capital -AND a definate incentive to perform. Mindyou the level is pitched fairly low so the current sp is a "steal" IF they prosper as it was running about 10p (DYOR), when things were thought to be OK.
I think these two execs have the right mix of incentive and "potential" to make more of this company than (just) ice-cream......although with hotter summers promised that may be a v. good starting-point.
Personally, I don't like ice-cream, as I have "sensitive teeth",(Oops!), but it is a popular luxury and I see no problem with a Brand already sold in threatres, museums, stately homes etc. wherever Outlets want an up-market image. Competition will always snap; but HLL- branding could be a barrier to entry (for cheaper Me-Too's). I hope the Supermarket Branding is temporary as this may dictate profitability; yet I hold in hope....
"Melons, Ices, Who will Buy my - - -"
After-EGM EDIT: I understand when the Co floated over 1-yr ago early investors had purchased at 3p, so even now late arrivals are able to buy-in more favourably. I also added better detail (re the 1m+200k above) as far as I know, but DYOR. Their Brands are well known and production staff are busy working at the factory....the New Exec is focussed on Sales and the others report to him...it will take a while to see if he is "nimble-enough" to take advantage of any opportunitiy, for I understand the large contracts are already signed, which I take to mean further Sales in 2007 are unlikely to be significantly better than they already know. Unfortunately I'm not sure what they have signed, but I'm hoping that this new man will prove far better than earlier Management who let the production rule.
* the Loseley Brand also covers Dairy products, which is NOT this business.....only the Ice-Cream (known as Loseley Ices) is part of Hill Station. This may cause some confusion, but is understood in the "Food" industry as an historical issue; as far as I know there is no dispute over the name ( EDIT 31-May2007) DYOR
PS
up 20% today, making this one of the top-risers.
halifax
- 04 Sep 2007 16:41
- 14 of 21
Melting fast!
hangon
- 11 Sep 2007 16:21
- 15 of 21
I suspect this is due to general market woes - sub-prime lending in the US , etc.
Furthermore the lack of any news on the "new improved" company and what looks ( to me) like considerable dilution.......means that many PI's are wary to buy - - - so only Sells register and this is a disaster for any small stock.
The issue (IMHO), is this: Is this company any better than a year ago?
1) It has better management, also some recent finance....
2) It has a slicker brand-offering ( although I'm still no wiser as to what they are! - Oh dear. - - Bill:- Help"!).
3) It is a bad time in the Market, generally.
4) It's too soon to have results, in a few months we should see some turnaround in progress - but don't expect profits! This is a long-term issue.
Despite the "bargain price" status, I'm not buying - not until I can see some strength in the businiess - then the sp will start to pick-up.
hangon
- 14 Feb 2008 13:19
- 16 of 21
Grief it's looking like a bad-call on my part - just shows any sp can halve and halve again . . . .
Today it's about 10% of what I paid - OO-OOps!
0.015pence - that's nearly ten-a-penny - ah well.
G D Potts
- 14 Feb 2008 22:20
- 17 of 21
could be de-listing. I used to eat some class mango ice cream by Hill Station from Tesco but havent seen it in a while !
hangon
- 04 Mar 2008 00:58
- 18 of 21
See RNS 28 Feb - it seems there has been a Court Action over the purchase of one of their businesses - OH dear, when will companies learn to resist buying turnover? - Grr!
I suspect this ( info), has been the reason for the falling sp . . . .and not going private. . . .that would be very damaging for the other interests Bill Mapperstone has . . . . and whilst it might be a short-term fix - he's got better things to do, other than annoying the Market.
+Many of his fellow investors will not be happy if this was the case. However, losing the Case may be a financial shock too much. . . . Deary me!
The Court case is a worry, though. Did they pay too much and only discovered the problems a little late?
Anyone?
hangon
- 19 Mar 2008 16:40
- 19 of 21
SP rises nearly 20% in mixed Trades - Sells being 2x larger than Buys _ Eh? Could be after-hours deal will appear.....or the trades are incorrectly marked more likely....who cares?
Still a nice rise on No-news, - perhaps it's the loosening of Money-markets in the US.
hangon
- 23 Apr 2008 11:29
- 20 of 21
Banks Banks Bankers!
It seems HLL Bankers are not prepared to allow very much more than 1.1 million funding - and this is likely to be a constraint on their cash-needs. However, that aside the underlying noises are OK . . . this means they will have to concentrate on "good payers" - something that might improve the Brand in the long-term -
But why?
Banks are trying to restrict their lending - pure and simple.
They will always lend you money when you don't need it . . . and I guess until HLL gets it business in a MUCH stronger position the sp will remain this Low-low-low.
Make you weep, eh?
hangon
- 16 May 2008 17:26
- 21 of 21
MM's playing games with investors - doubling the sp for a trivial spend ( remember these are cheaper than ice-cream foil-wrappers ( Execs please note!).
Still it's a bit of fun . . . . glad to read the Company Execs are alive to the Market movements - - - - just a shame the amounts aren't "big" 's
EDIT-(Nov08)- Dead in the water with a froth of ices, all at sea....Grr