Gourmet Pets is an innovative competitor in the billion-dollar pet food industry. In fact, two of its products, Kitty Sirloin and McDog T-bone, each claim over a 30% share in their market segments. The company has done detailed research and discovered that, for a growing number of pet owners, the family pet serves as a baby substitute. These owners tend to pamper their pets, and are very discriminating in what they purchase. With this in mind, the company has put a great deal of effort into developing a new dog food: Prime Cuts. The new product is packaged in a resealable, microwaveable container and can be purchased in a variety of flavors (including Western BBQ, Teriyaki, Australian Outback, and Hickory Smoked). Gourmet Pets promotes the product as far superior to "average" dog foods, even though the quality of meat and nutrient content of the food are virtually identical to many other brands. The company faces no competition in this market segment so it plans to charge a high price for the product.

a. Gourmet Pets is interested in computing the break-even point for its new product Prime Cuts. The fixed costs of adding this product to the product line amounts to $20,000. Variable costs to produce one package of Prime Cuts are $2. Prime Cuts will sell for $6 per package. What would be the break-even point? Explain your answers clearly?

b. Gourmet Pets feels its target market is more concerned with perceived quality than actual product cost. They also feel that the newness of this concept offers an opportunity to make high profits since they are the first firm to enter this market, so they face no direct competition. What is the strategy consistent with their decision to charge a high price? Explain your answers clearly?