Cost cutting boosts Rocky Mountain 2Q profit

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory fiscal 2nd-quarter profit rises, helped by cost cutting

• On 12:09 pm EDT, Tuesday October 6, 2009

DURANGO, Colo. (AP) -- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc., a confectionery products maker, said Tuesday its fiscal second-quarter net income rose 6 percent, boosted by cost cutting.

Profit for the quarter ended Aug. 31 rose to $882,000, or 14 cents per share, from $833,000, or 14 cents per share, last year. There were about 6 million shares outstanding during the quarter compared to 5.98 million a year ago.

Revenue fell 3 percent to $6.1 million from $6.3 million last year. Sales at stores open at least one year, considered a key measure of a retailer's financial strength, fell 4.8 percent.

Total costs and expenses fell 5 percent to $4.7 million.

Shares fell 8 cents to $8.94 during midday trading.