I'm hogging a lot of time here. Not my intention. Like Cav, I'm trying to shut up - but it doesn't always work. I'm just having fun examining the ongoing stages of progress to learn what it takes to get a new company moving. Interesting stuff.
>>>The contracts with Wal-mart and Winn-Dixie - still a go?
My instinct says WalMart production will start in a week, and Winn Dixie in three. I don't have any facts to back this, but last news (weeks ago) had the WalMart 8-color inked film for 4,000,000+ pouches curing in a print shop. Next step - the laser 'rip-it' score. Current step - my guess is production start-up awaits WalMart final inspection and approval. My guess is Winn Dixie is same, but pushed out two weeks. Again, few facts back my suspicion, and delays are legion. Lack of communication of 'delay' status is, to me, TCBG's biggest weak point, but it is their right to keep us informed as they see appropriate. To be fair, IR is always happy to talk shop and give status info. Sometimes I wish there would be juicier info, but then I realize I'm just trying to rush things. TCBG is moving forward 'at speed'.
Initial WalMart product will only be available in SuperCenters (grocery store WalMarts).
>>>Irl sponsorship - carrying on through next year?
As I understand it, TCBG is uncertain of next seasons contract (a normal situation), but they are optimistic next year can be a continuation of this year. I think racing restarts in January.
>>>Why the sudden lack of news surrounding this stock?
TCBG learned that people lost interest in news if it doesn't have hard production figures tied to it. Press releases cost money, and eventually were having a boomerang effect. A 'show me the money' kind of attitude with the shareholders took hold.
>>>The Nestle's deal - a total farce?
Best I can tell: The PR was a poor calculation. I do think the Nestle deal opened some doors, but what they had going on internally to generate the Nestles press release is unknown. This communication, to me, was a blemish for TCBG. (I think the stock price corrected for it.) Not knowing the inside details, there may have been strategic value in this odd press release.
>>>What happened to the cc. promises of reporting in late Aug.?
I'm not sure they were promoted as 'promises'. And I believe they did, in fact, get the ball rolling way back then. It just takes longer than expected for the mechanisms to fall together. I personally sensed the timelines they stated as being 'perfect world' scenarios. I know time-lines can get drawn out for the dangdest reasons. I've been there. Mostly, I credit TCBG for communicating their intentions to us. Though progress for TCBG is slower that I might expect, it is rock-steadily moving forward.
I think, too, that they eventually realized that it doesn't make sense to rush out a report before they have revenue. But this, now, is just my opinion.
I spoke to Jon briefly a couple weeks ago. I believe he is feeling the pressures of progress delays (as they relate to investor relations) and his team is working hard (and learning fast) to get things up and running.
TCBG is still a risky BB start-up venture. It's current financial status is unknown. It still has a great idea at it's foundation. It still has a competent, motivated, friendly, hard-working team at it's core (based on everything I have seen). It still has strong contracts to get it launched. It still has patent pendings. It's still moving to become a reporting company. And it still has a neat product that I would like to buy.
For me, the positives still far outweigh the 'typical delays' we are seeing.
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