Q. CRSL has a large auditorium which can cater for 300 people and is ideal for formal balls and functions. The auditorium can also be reconfigured to cater for 100 people. The Seasons Restaurant supplies the meals to the auditorium at $20.00 per meal. The manager from Seasons Restaurant has advised the manager of the auditorium that prices will increase as of next month to $30.00 per meal. The auditorium manager is concerned that hosting events will not be viable and has looked into outsourcing the meals to a mobile catering service who will charge $22.50 per meal. The variable cost per meal is $17.50. Seasons Restaurant has capacity to continue to offer the meals.
The Auditorium manager is seeking approval to buy the meals from an outside caterer and has looked to you to help support the move.
Required:
a) What would be a suitable price per meal for the auditorium to continue to have the Season’s Restaurants supply meals? Explain your answer?
b) How would the transfer price change if Seasons Restaurant had no excess capacity?
c) Explain the potential conflict between the Auditorium management and the company as a whole when it comes to making transfer pricing decisions. In your response include reasons as to why it not desirable for the Board of directors to get involved.