Notes to CoNsolidated FiNaNCial statemeNts (In thousands of dollars except as noted and per share amounts) 7.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CONTINUED):  8. INVENTORIES: All trade and other receivables are current and are classified as loans and receivables. The Company grants credit to its customers in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that the Company’s exposure to credit risk and impairment losses related to trade and other  receivables is limited due to the following reasons:  Through General Security Agreements with its lenders, trade and other receivables have been granted as continuing  collateral security for all present and future indebtedness to the current lenders.  All costs of sales expensed during the year were all inventorial items, except for fixed costs incurred in Taber after the  beet slicing campaign, and mark-to-market adjustments of derivative financial instruments.  • Less than 1% of trade receivables are outstanding for more than 90 days, while over 85% are current (less than 30 days) as at September 28, 2013, which is comparable to September 29, 2012. • Bad debt write-offs to total revenue have been less than 0.05% for each of the last five years (averaging less than  $172 per year).Write-offs for fiscal 2013 were $82 ($111 for fiscal 2012).The allowance for doubtful accounts as at  September 28, 2013 was $300 (September 29, 2012 - $300). All bad debt write-offs are charged to administration  and selling expenses.  • There is a broad base of customers with dispersion across different market segments. September 28, September 29,  2013 2012 $ $ Raw sugar  30,536 35,139 Work in progress  5,323 9,543 Refined sugar  20,297 19,652 Sugar inventories  56,156 64,334 Packaging and operating supplies  5,125 4,056 Spare parts and other  11,093 9,896 72,374 78,286 59 Annual Report 2013