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.

Hi hangon.. I agree with you. Mr. Mapstone has made his Preliminary results report for a period of time for which in the main he was not responsible, his package of funds were only made available over the last few months, he must now be given the time to complete the turn round of the Company into profits. The Preliminary results full text can be found at shareclubuk.co.uk.

Anyone for the AGM? Looks like it should bring out some holders . . . . what I want to hear is some progress by BM and some more "grunt" in the sales department. The brands they have are good, the products are excellent...now let's see if they can sell 'em...
Icecrean always suffered from the "freezer problem" where a popular brand would supply the freezer on condition is was used exclusivly - (I think this condition is regarded as in Restraint of Trade, thesedays) - so in effect popular brands were buying floor-space and a display cabinet in one. Losley needs to make its brands and flavours appealing in a very crowded market...they need that Zap-extra!
My suspicion is that they need a Brand specialist - who can position the brand where a traditional salesman could not.....it's not easy to get right and might mean giving good options ( Arrgh!) to the incommer......but this stock needs to aproach double figures on the back of increased sales and profits.
I'm sure BM is astute enough to realise this and will be interested in hearing what he has to tell us....

A further dip but we are told the finances are being controlled and new funding discussions are in negotiation with key shareholders.
It's not good to learn Energy and Raw Material(food) prices have risen; yet I suppose we know it's true everywhere - still they have to tell it like it is....it's not "upbeat" just yet IMHO, but looks like Execs are fighting positive and not giving up easily.
That is all one can expect at this stage in a Co-life - either it will be good or bad....I think the Execs we have now are our best chance. If there is an acquisition (hence need for funding) I hope it will spread the season for cold-foods...although judging by sticky children in Public, it appears to be year-round.

Perhaps it was the purchase of Real Ices that made the sp wander about...I don't suppose someone with Bill's experience would buy more Business (esp for cash!) if it wouldn't assist in the medium-term.
What we have is a loss-maker merging (buying) a smaller one, with a wider range of customers between them. This is (IMHO, but DYOR), to increase the throughput at the Welsh factory
- more throughput means lower overheads (per ice!) and also a stronger bargaining position for raw materials...we hope.
+All of this happened just as the wet Summer was turning dry - and I hope Bill is looking to widen the appeal of the Brands, so HLL isn't seen as "fair-weather" fodder.

Dilution of existing shareholders is an issue - but in reality the business has to expand to become profitable - sure there can be mangement changes here and there, but ultimately you need Turnover - and a wider audience "should" produce this.....with the only concern that this will either:
increase sales staff costs, who will remain loyal only to their own brands (ie not become "New Company" men), and:
cause a small efficient tem to be spread too thinly, so they can't be close-enough to their key customers.
- These issues need strong Management who insist on a new "Company-line" - loyalty and reward for meeting targets......such people are rare, but Bill is a level-headed person, who seems to have the necessary skills - - time and sp will tell....

Oh dear, and bad weather too has caused the sp to falter - 1p to buy looks quite a baargain - with the additional brand and (curiously) cost-cutting measures in Wales....still, if they can get some additional funds then a sp of 1p may be what's required.

Does anyone understand the small-print of the EGM-ann Funding? I get the impression the dilution factor is 50% - but we're getting an additional up and running Brand - and tidying up the Accounts, with enough left over as Working capital........but I could be wrong...
The spread is looking tad-bad, but I guess that prevents any of the Placing-folk disposing of stock (er, only to replace it with more....at this lower price.)..
-Anyone?

0.4p is looking pretty sick...is this time to exit?

Melting fast!

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.

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.

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 !

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?

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.

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?

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