J&J Snack Foods’ First Quarter Net Sales Increase 32% leading to EPS of $0.58

PENNSAUKEN, N.J., Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ: JJSF) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended December 25, 2021.        

	First Quarter
	Actuals		% v. LY
Net Sales	$318.5M		32.2%
Operating Income	$14.8M		2468%
Net Earnings	$11.1M		524%
Earnings per Diluted Share (EPS)	$0.58		520%

Dan Fachner, J&J Snack Foods President and CEO, commented, “Our first quarter fiscal 2022 results reflect a continuation of positive consumer trends and healthy demand for our products even as the spread and impact of Covid-19 accelerated throughout the quarter. Net sales increased 32% year-over-year and by 17% versus the same period in fiscal 2019, led by strong results from our core products including pretzels and churros, frozen novelties, as well as sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels in our frozen beverages segment. The Food Service segment grew 32%, compared to the prior year period, while the Retail and Frozen Beverages segments grew 9% and 54%, respectively. Overall, our first quarter sales performance demonstrates ongoing strength and our belief of the tremendous growth potential of our business in both the near- and long-term as we move deeper into a post-pandemic recovery.”

“As was the case last quarter, our industry continues to experience unprecedented inflationary pressures and higher-than-expected cost increases across many facets of the business, from raw materials and ingredients, to transportation, packaging and labor. First quarter fiscal 2022 gross margin was 25%, favorably comparing to 21% for the prior year, but below the 28% gross margin generated in the comparable 2019 period. Our organization continues to focus on specific actions to offset the short-term cost challenges and we have identified a number of opportunities to reduce expenses across our business, including procurement, R&D, production and distribution. In addition, we have four new production lines scheduled to be activated in fiscal 2022 that will leverage automation to improve efficiencies. Finally, we are also implementing additional price increases for our products across nearly all of our categories. Collectively, we expect these initiatives to improve our gross margins progressively over the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and into the back-half of the fiscal year.”

"With a strong balance sheet and liquidity position, we have the financial flexibility to continue making select return-focused strategic investments in sales, marketing and product innovation to further J&J’s position as a leader in the snack foods segment. We are also actively evaluating inorganic, accretive growth opportunities that complement our existing product portfolio and bring added value to our shareholders. We are confident that our continued execution on these strategic priorities is positioning J&J Snack Foods for continued near- and long-term growth and success, particularly as economic trends further improve and segments of our of business such as theaters, amusement parks and outdoor events continue their recovery.”

“I believe our future is exceedingly bright as we leverage our unique and valuable assets, including some of the most powerful and enduring brands in the snack food industry, brands that are real and sustainable and have been time tested.   This year, J&J Snack Foods is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding, highlighting our transformational growth and success over five decades driven by a disciplined approach toward managing the business and an organization-wide commitment to ‘serving fun’ to our customers. We are determined to continue that trend in 2022 and beyond."

Total Company First Quarter Highlights

Net sales increased 32% to $318.5 million in Q1 of fiscal 2022, compared to Q1 of fiscal 2021, and by 17%, compared to Q1 of fiscal 2019.

Key highlights include:

• Sales were driven by growth in core products, including soft pretzels, churros, bakery and frozen beverages.
• Food Service sales exceeded Q1 ’21 by 32%, and surpassed Q1 ’19 by 18%.
• Retail segment sales exceeded Q1 ’21 by 9% and surpassed Q1 ’19 by 36%.
• Frozen Beverage segment sales beat Q1 ’21 sales by 54%, led by frozen beverages growing over 113%; frozen beverage sales surpassed Q1 ’19 by 8% led by strong growth across restaurant, convenience, and amusement channels, and an improving theater business that grew sequentially each month of the quarter.

Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 25% in Q1 ’22, compared to 21% in Q1 ’21, reflecting the operating leverage benefit of increased sales, favorable product mix and corresponding margin efficiencies.

Total operating expenses were 20.3% of sales for the quarter, a decrease of 30 bps, compared to Q1 ’21. Expenses were negatively impacted by industry-wide freight and distribution cost increases. Distribution costs were 10.5% of sales in the quarter, an increase of 96 bps versus the prior year period, while marketing and selling expenses were 6.6% of sales, a decrease of 62 bps versus the prior year period. Administrative expenses were 3.3% of sales in Q1 ’22, favorably comparing to 3.9% in Q1 ’21.

Operating income was $14.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, compared to $0.6 million in the prior year period, largely reflecting the operating leverage in our model and the aforementioned items. Net earnings in Q1 ‘22 increased to $11.1 million, compared to $1.8 million in Q1 ’21. Our effective tax rate was 27% in Q1 ‘22.   

Food Service Segment First Quarter Highlights

• Q1 ’22 food service sales exceeded Q1 ’21 by 32% and surpassed Q1 ’19 sales by 18%.
• Customer venues across theaters, sports, amusement, convenience, schools and restaurants and strategic accounts are experiencing a surge in post pandemic demand driving strong sales in our core products, including 54% increase in soft pretzel sales to $50.4 million, 34% increase in frozen novelties sales to $8.5 million, churro sales growth of 69% to $19.5 million led by customer expansion and growing menu penetration, bakery sales growth of 21% to $107.8 million, and, handheld sales growth of 5% to $18.5 million.
• Sales of new products were approximately $2 million driven primarily by new bakery items.
• Q1 ’22 operating income increased 46% to $9.0 million driven by strong sales and improved product mix, and the benefits of expense leverage.

Retail Segment First Quarter Highlights

• Q1 ’22 retail sales increased 9%, compared to Q1 ’21, and grew 36% versus Q1 ’19 sales.
• Soft pretzels increased 17%, compared to Q1 ’21, and sales increased 59% as compared to Q1 ’19 led by our SuperPretzel core product and growing pretzel bites volume. Frozen novelties sales increased 16%, and were 62% higher than the same quarter in fiscal 2019 aided by wider distribution for Luigi’s, Whole Fruit, Dogsters, Icee and Minute Maid brands. Biscuit sales increased 8% in the quarter. Handheld sales declined 54% to $1.3 million driven by proactive discontinuations of margin dilutive products.
• Operating income increased 6% to $5.0 million driven by higher sales and the benefits of expense leverage compared to prior year.
  

Frozen Beverages Segment First Quarter Highlights      

• Frozen beverage segment sales beat Q1 ’21 sales by 54% led by beverage sales, and surpassed pre-Covid 2019 sales for the same quarter by 6%.
• Beverage sales grew over 100%, $17.9 million higher than in Q1 ’21 and 8% higher than Q1 ’19 reflecting the growing momentum across theater, amusement, convenience, and restaurant channels. In the amusement channel, we continue to see strong growth in indoor focused venues where we are well positioned for growth. Theater sales improved steadily over the quarter including a strong December where sales were just slightly below pre-Covid 2019 levels.
• Service revenues increased 16%, the strongest quarter in history, led by an acceleration in preventive maintenance calls. Equipment sales increased 21% driven mainly by growth from large QSR and convenience customers.
• Q1 ’22 Operating income increased to $0.9 million, compared to a Q1 ’21 operating loss of $10.3 million, as strong sales drove leverage across the business.

About J&J Snack Foods Corp.
J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ: JJSF) is a leader and innovator in the snack food industry, providing innovative, niche and affordable branded snack foods and beverages to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets. Manufactured and distributed nationwide, our principal products include SUPERPRETZEL, the #1 soft pretzel brand in the world, as well as internationally known ICEE and SLUSH PUPPIE frozen beverages, LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID* frozen ices, WHOLE FRUIT sorbet and frozen fruit bars, SOUR PATCH KIDS** Flavored Ice Pops, Tio Pepe’s & CALIFORNIA CHURROS, and THE FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY funnel cakes and several bakery brands within DADDY RAY’S, COUNTRY HOME BAKERS and HILL & VALLEY. J&J Snack Foods Corp. has approximately twenty manufacturing facilities and generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The Company has a history of strong sales growth and financial performance and remains focused on opportunities to expand its unique niche market product offering while bringing smiles to families worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.jjsnack.com.

*MINUTE MAID is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company
**SOUR PATCH KIDS is a registered trademark of Mondelēz International group, used under license.

Certain Definitions
Adjusted EBITDA consists of net earnings adjusted to exclude: income taxes (benefit); investment income; interest expense; depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation expense; COVID-19 related expenses; net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets; impairment charges, and restructuring costs.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
It is important to note that Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management believes that this measure is useful as a way to evaluate the Company and the means for Management to evaluate our performance and operations. Management believes that this measure is useful to an investor in evaluating our performance because it is widely used in the food and beverage industry.

A certain adjusted non-GAAP financial measure is presented in this release. Management believes this adjusted non-GAAP measure provides useful information to Management and investors by excluding certain income, expenses, and gains and losses that may not be indicative of the Company’s core operating and financial results. Similarly, Management believes this adjusted measure is a useful performance measure because certain items included in the calculation of net earnings may either mask or exaggerate trends in the Company’s ongoing operating performance. Further, the reconciliation corresponding to this adjusted measure, by identifying individual adjustments, provides a useful mechanism for investors to consider this adjusted measure with some, or all, of the identified adjustments.

Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure on an ongoing basis to help track and assess the Company’s financial performance. You, however, should not consider non-GAAP measures in isolation or as a substitute for net earnings, operating income, or any other measure for determining our operating performance that is calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This non-GAA measure is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. The accompanying financial tables provide reconciliations to the nearest GAAP measure of all non-GAAP measures provided in this release.

Investor Contact:
Joseph Jaffoni, Norberto Aja or Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
(212) 835-8500
jjsf@jcir.com

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three months ended
	December 25,				December 26,
		2021				2020
Net Sales	$	318,490			$	240,997
Cost of goods sold		239,115				190,872
Gross Profit		79,375				50,125
Operating expenses
Marketing		20,907				17,301
Distribution		33,315				22,889
Administrative		10,369				9,440
Other general expense		(61	)			(83	)
Total Operating Expenses		64,530				49,547
Operating Income		14,845				578
Other income (expense)
Investment income		271				1,370
Interest expense & other		(18	)			(15	)
Earnings before
income taxes		15,098				1,933
Income tax expense		4,007				155
NET EARNINGS	$	11,091			$	1,778
Earnings per diluted share	$	0.58			$	0.09
Weighted average number
of diluted shares		19,153				19,031
Earnings per basic share	$	0.58			$	0.09
Weighted average number of
basic shares		19,085				18,935

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)
	December 25,				September 25,
		2021				2021
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	268,460			$	283,192
Marketable securities held to maturity		5,506				7,980
Accounts receivable, net		162,585				162,939
Inventories		132,724				123,160
Prepaid expenses and other		6,771				7,498
Total current assets		576,046				584,769
Property, plant and equipment, at cost		766,510				757,242
Less accumulated depreciation
and amortization		495,516				490,055
Property, plant and equipment, net		270,994				267,187
Other assets
Goodwill		121,833				121,833
Other intangible assets, net		77,191				77,776
Marketable securities held to maturity		2,038				4,047
Marketable securities available for sale		7,327				10,084
Operating lease right-of-use assets		54,195				54,555
Other		2,282				1,968
Total other assets		264,866				270,263
Total Assets	$	1,111,906			$	1,122,219
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Current finance lease liabilities	$	146			$	182
Accounts payable		91,010				96,789
Accrued insurance liability		15,352				16,260
Accrued liabilities		13,307				10,955
Current operating lease liabilities		13,512				13,395
Accrued compensation expense		12,688				17,968
Dividends payable		12,083				12,080
Total current liabilities		158,098				167,629
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities		354				392
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		45,970				46,557
Deferred income taxes		61,061				61,578
Other long-term liabilities		425				409
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized
10,000,000 shares; none issued		-				-
Common stock, no par value; authorized,
50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
19,089,000 and 19,084,000 respectively		75,386				73,597
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,827	)			(13,383	)
Retained Earnings		784,439				785,440
Total stockholders' equity		845,998				845,654
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	1,111,906			$	1,122,219

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited) (in thousands)
	Three months ended
	December 25,				December 26,
		2021				2020
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$	11,091			$	1,778
Adjustments to reconcile net
earnings to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of fixed assets		11,923				12,269
Amortization of intangibles
and deferred costs		588				679
Gains from disposals of property & equipment		(27	)			-
Share-based compensation		1,083				1,244
Deferred income taxes		(529	)			(8	)
Loss (gain) on marketable securities		44				(681	)
Other		(4	)			(80	)
Changes in assets and liabilities
net of effects from purchase of companies
Decrease in accounts receivable		231				13,701
Increase in inventories		(9,958	)			(5,641	)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses		719				(889	)
Decrease in accounts payable and
accrued liabilities		(9,707	)			(1,068	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		5,454				21,304
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment		(16,100	)			(9,676	)
Proceeds from redemption and sales of
marketable securities		7,200				26,148
Proceeds from disposal of property and
equipment		231				880
Other		-				15
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(8,669	)			17,367
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock		706				4,390
Payments on finance lease obligations		(74	)			(86	)
Payment of cash dividend		(12,080	)			(10,876	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(11,448	)			(6,572	)
Effect of exchange rate on cash
and cash equivalents		(69	)			427
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents		(14,732	)			32,526
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of period		283,192				195,809
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period	$	268,460			$	228,335

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	(Unaudited) (in thousands)
	Three months ended
	December 25,				December 26,
		2021				2020
Sales to External Customers:
Food Service
Soft pretzels	$	50,421			$	32,687
Frozen novelties		8,457				6,295
Churros		19,489				11,542
Handhelds		18,495				17,611
Bakery		107,831				88,964
Other		7,039				3,326
Total Food Service	$	211,732			$	160,425
Retail Supermarket
Soft pretzels	$	16,194			$	13,888
Frozen novelties		17,802				15,316
Biscuits		8,271				7,660
Handhelds		1,276				2,780
Coupon redemption		(896	)			(1,075	)
Other		48				525
Total Retail Supermarket	$	42,695			$	39,094
Frozen Beverages
Beverages	$	33,763			$	15,855
Repair and
maintenance service		22,011				18,896
Machines revenue		7,847				6,489
Other		442				238
Total Frozen Beverages	$	64,063			$	41,478
Consolidated Sales	$	318,490			$	240,997
Depreciation and Amortization:
Food Service	$	6,669			$	6,786
Retail Supermarket		366				386
Frozen Beverages		5,476				5,776
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$	12,511			$	12,948
Operating Income :
Food Service	$	9,001			$	6,180
Retail Supermarket		4,984				4,723
Frozen Beverages		860				(10,325	)
Total Operating Income	$	14,845			$	578
Capital Expenditures:
Food Service	$	10,233			$	8,286
Retail Supermarket		2,529				21
Frozen Beverages		3,338				1,369
Total Capital Expenditures	$	16,100			$	9,676
Assets:
Food Service	$	794,819			$	744,277
Retail Supermarket		29,802				31,668
Frozen Beverages		287,285				275,898
Total Assets	$	1,111,906			$	1,051,843

J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Unaudited) (in thousands)
			Three months ended
			December 25,			December 26,
			2021			2020
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Earnings to Adjusted EBITDA
Net Earnings			11,091			1,778
Income Taxes			4,007			155
Investment Income			(271	)		(1,370	)
Interest Expense			18			15
Depreciation and Amortization			12,511			12,948
Share-Based Compensation			1,083			1,244
COVID-19 (Recoveries) Expenses			(874	)		745
Net (Gain) Loss on Sale or Disposal of Assets			(27	)		-
Adjusted EBITDA			27,538			15,515