Spectrum 48K

AUTO CHEF

CCS STRATEGY GAMES


The object of the Auto Chef is to trade profitably so that the company
accumulates sufficient capital (25 million) to take-over T.H.F.! From
information supplied you have to decide on which type of outlet to operate, the
price of the menu, whether to enter into loan contracts or purchase consignments
of food or wines and the level of advertising, wages and dividends. Decisions
also have to take into account differing levels of inflation each year. You are
warned that if results and dividends are insufficient to satisfy the
shareholders, you will be made to resign!
There are levels of difficulty.


COPYRIGHT 1982

Copies of this recording may only be made for the sole use of the purchaser
unless written permission is obtained.

CASES COMPUTER SIMULATIONS, 14 Langton Way, London SE3 7TL

LOADING INSTRUCTIONS
The procedure for loading a program into your Spectrum is given in the manual.
Please follow these steps for loading program.
1. Connect the ear socket of the computer to the ear socket of your tape
   recorder.
2. Set the volume control as per Sinclair manual.
3. Adjust the tune control to maximum.
4. Type LOAD "AUTOCHEF".
5. Start the tape recorder. The program will RUN automatically once loaded.
6. The program takes 2 minutes to load.


Printed by ACI. Tel: 0233 22318


1. OBJECT OF THE GAME
You are the M.D. of a group which operates a chain of restaurants. The group
starts with 1 million capital. The objective is to increase the net assets of
the company to 25 million and take-over *THF in the shortest possible time. Be
warned however, your progress will be assessed by the shareholders and if you
are not making satisfactory progress, you will be forced to resign. Results of
decisions are seen in the form of the Trading Account, Profit & Loss Account and
Balance Sheet.

2. INFORMATION AVAILABLE
a. Bar chart showing results of a market survey of customer's eating habits.
b. Histogram of cost indecies.
c. Trading Profit & Loss Account.
d. Balance Sheet.

3. Business decisions required
You have to decide on:
a. Type of catering establishments to operate.
b. How much rent to tender for leases/franchise.
c. How much to charge for each meal.
d. Whether to purchase bulk consignments of food and wine.
e. The level of advertising.
f. Staff remuneration policy.
g. Whether to enter into loans or repay them.
h. Percentage dividend declared.

4. Problems encountered
a. Increase in the rental market.
b. Loss of customer due to too high a menu price.
c. Strikes, fires, unhygienic premises.

5. HINTS ON PLAY
a. You will need to decide which chain of catering establishments you wish to
   operate. Look for high customer demand and large number of units.
b. There is a greater gross profit percentage on restaurants and cafeterias than
   on fast food restaurants or take-away premises. Maximum number of restaurants
   and cafeteria units is 9.
c. If your bid is not successful then you will have to increase your bid by more
   than 10% (say 15%) to be successful.
d. All costs increase each year because of inflation. A histogram illustrates
   rates of increase.
e. Menu prices may be increased. However, the ability of the market to withstand
   increased prices depends on the 'meals bought index'. The higher this is, the
   higher the menu price the market will stand. If too high a price is required,
   sales will be lost through lack of customers.
f. It is usually desirable to purchase bulk consignments of food and wine as
   these are obtained at a 10% to 20% discount.
g. High level of advertising may result in sales increasing by 10% or 20%.
   Player must seek optimum level each year.
h. Reductions in level of wages are permanent, however a strike results in 20%
   of sales being lost.
i. Dividends less than 15% will usually result in shareholders proposing a 'vote
   of no confidence'.
j. There is a bonus issue of shares every 5 years which increases the
   requirement for dividends.
k. Fixtures and fittings increase each year according to the value of leases
   (rents) entered into.
l. Cost Ratios to sales are as follows:
					Other
		Food	Wine	Wages	Expenses
Take Aways	70		17	4
Fast Food	55		30	4
Cafeterias	35	5	30	10
Restaurants	15	10	35	10

m. Load "AUTOCHEF".
			*T.H.H. is the trademark of Trust House Forte.
