Chapter 230
"How long will it take, Noah?" Isaiah immediately asked. "You know how urgent our supermarket situation is. We can't afford any delay. Three suppliers have already come to take back their goods because we don't have the money. If we don't receive the $50 million within a day, our Kroger will have to close down and go through judicial auction to pay back those suppliers."
"That $50 million is really urgently needed. Noah, please hurry," Isaiah pleaded.
"I got it. I'll let you know the results within a day," Noah reassured.
"Alright, I'll be waiting for your message, Noah," Isaiah replied, finally feeling relieved.
As long as the $50 million arrives within a day, there is still a chance to turn the situation around and avoid bankruptcy.
Noah then opened the financial reports and glanced through them briefly.
He wasn't surprised by Kroger's current situation. The rude attitude of the salesperson when he tried the Caesar salad at Kroger that day had already revealed significant management issues within the supermarket.
Seeing the bigger picture from small details, Noah knew that Kroger was destined to fail.
Isaiah's father losing money through gambling only accelerated this outcome.
After a quick look at the financial reports, Noah forwarded all the files to the finance manager at Shark Company, asking for help in analyzing Kroger's business situation.
After all, they were the experts in this field.
As for why he didn't approach Samuel from Noah Capital, Noah estimated that even if he did, it wouldn't make a difference.
Xavier had told him that during the execution of the family mission, apart from money, no family relationships could be used. So Noah had to rely on his own people.
"Noah, I'll consolidate and send you the financial report in three hours," the finance manager informed him after receiving the files.
"Understood. Thank you," Noah replied, putting down his phone and quietly waiting.
Before three hours had passed, the finance manager sent over the consolidated report.
"Noah, here's the summary based on Kroger's financial report. Please check it," the message read.
"Thank you," Noah replied.
Noah accepted the files and opened them to take a look. According to the summary, for the past two and a half years, Kroger had been steadily making a profit in Oceanbridge City. With over one hundred Kroger stores, they were generating a daily gross profit of around two hundred thousand dollars. After deducting expenses such as rent, employee wages, cost of goods, and store renovations, they were making a net profit of over forty million dollars per year. This was considered a very good income.
However, in the latter half of the year, Isaiah's father started gambling and losing money, which caused a problem with cash flow. They couldn't pay the suppliers, and as a result, several supply chains were disrupted and some goods became unavailable for purchase at Kroger. This indirectly led to a scarcity of customers at Kroger. Without customers, there would naturally be no profit.
In the second half of the year, Kroger began to experience losses. Initially, they were losing a few tens of thousands of dollars per day, but gradually, the losses expanded. Currently, they were losing over three hundred thousand dollars per day. Moreover, during this period, several suppliers had started to come and demand payment, even sending legal letters and taking the matter to court. In the past six months, Isaiah's father had been continuously attending court hearings, facing debt collectors and being urged to repay money. It could be said that he was in dire straits.
"It seems like Isaiah's father didn't just lose a few tens of millions as Isaiah claimed. He probably lost over a billion," Noah rubbed his chin. "Maybe he even has a significant amount of bank loans and high-interest loans to deal with."
The summary also mentioned that if they could resolve Kroger's current cash flow problem, they could turn their losses into a balanced revenue within a year. Only then could they gradually achieve profitability.
"So, this fifty million can only prevent Kroger from further losses and achieve a balanced revenue. Additionally, it will take a year," Noah contemplated, his expression pensive.
...
At 7 PM, Isaiah sent a message: "Noah, have you finished reviewing the financial report? Have you made a decision yet?"
Noah saw the message but didn't reply immediately. He waited for half an hour and then responded: "I'm almost done."
"Almost done? Noah, you said it would only take a day. It's already dark outside!" Isaiah replied anxiously.
"A day consists of twenty-four hours. It hasn't been a full day yet since you sent me the files. Considering that, it should be by tomorrow morning," Noah calmly messaged back.
"What?" Isaiah was dumbfounded. "Noah, by that time, even if you make a decision and agree to invest fifty million for cash flow, it will be too late! By then, the court officials might have already arrived to initiate the judicial auction process!"
"Noah, I'm sorry, but I can't do it. I said one day, and that's what it's going to be. As for the judicial auction, it's your problem. It doesn't affect me," Noah replied.
"Noah, are you playing me?" Isaiah sent a voice message after two minutes of silence, his anger evident and his voice icy cold.
"It's just a financial report. Even if you don't understand it, find an accountant, and it can be done in two or three hours. But you're telling me it will take a day. Are you playing me or what?" Isaiah continued angrily.
"Heh, now I know. You just want to laugh at our misfortune! Laugh at our supermarket going bankrupt! Every word you've said since last night is a lie to deceive me!" Noah responded.
"Noah, you liar!" Isaiah replied.
"Just wait, I'll find someone else! Even if I have to sell myself, Isaiah, I won't ask you for help with financial turnover! Even if the supermarket goes to judicial auction, I won't ask you anymore!" Isaiah sent a series of angry voice messages.
Noah listened to each one without changing his expression, not responding. He switched to the browser, opened the "Oceanbridge City Judicial Auction" website, and registered an account to check the latest auction information.
No matter how hard he looked, Noah couldn't find any information about Kroger. He wasn't worried though. His expression remained calm, like a patient tiger waiting for its prey, with infinite patience.
Buzzing...
Suddenly, Noah's phone rang. It was from Grace.
"Noah, something bad is happening at our Noah Barbecue Restaurant!" Grace's voice sounded anxious when he answered the call.
Noah could still hear sounds of beer bottles shattering, tables and chairs being thrown, and people shouting loudly.
"Who is causing trouble? Orchard Breeze Avenue Jack?" Noah furrowed his brows and asked.
"I don't know, but it doesn't seem like Jack's people!" Grace's voice trembled with tears.
"Noah, what do we do now... sob... sob..." Grace started to cry.
"Stay there, I'll be there soon. Remember, until I arrive, try to calm these people down without any direct conflict. If they want money, give it to them. Just don't get hurt," Noah said sternly.
