PREMIUM BRANDS HOLDINGS CORPORATION REPORTS RECORD SECOND QUARTER SALES AND ADJUSTED EBITDA AND DECLARES THIRD QUARTER DIVIDEND

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (TSX: PBH), a leading producer, marketer and distributor of branded specialty food products, announced today its results for the second quarter of 2024.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Record second quarter revenue of $1.70 billion representing a 4.4%, or $71.8 million, increase as compared to the second quarter of 2023
• Solid progress on Specialty Foods' core U.S. growth initiatives in sandwiches, protein and baked goods, which for the quarter generated an organic volume growth rate of 12.9% and total sales of $661.4 million
• Record second quarter adjusted EBITDA¹ of $164.6 million representing an 8.0%, or $12.2 million, increase as compared to the second quarter of 2023
• 9.7% adjusted EBITDA margin, up from 9.3% in the second quarter of 2023
• Specialty Foods' adjusted EBITDA margin continues to normalize reaching 10.5% for the quarter, a 40-basis point improvement as compared to the second quarter of 2023
• Second quarter adjusted EPS¹ of $1.28 per share representing a 0.8%, or $0.01 per share, increase as compared to the second quarter of 2023
• Declared a dividend of $0.85 per common share for the third quarter of 2024

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION

The Company will hold a Q&A session on its second quarter 2024 results today at 10:30 a.m.Vancouver time (1:30 p.m.Toronto time).  Management's pre-recorded remarks and an investor presentation that will be referenced on the conference call are available here or by navigating through the Company's website at www.premiumbrandsholdings.com.

Access to the Q&A session may be obtained by calling the operator at (289) 514-5100 or (800) 717-1738 (Conference ID: 19190) up to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. For those who are unable to participate, a recording of the conference call will be available through to 11:59 p.m. Toronto time on September 8, 2024 at (289) 819-1325 or (888) 660-6264 (passcode: 19190#).  Alternatively, a recording of the conference call will be available at the Company's website at www.premiumbrandsholdings.com.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In millions of dollars except per share amounts and ratios)

"We are pleased to report another quarter of record sales and adjusted EBITDA as we make steady progress towards achieving our short and long-term strategic objectives," said Mr. George Paleologou, President and CEO.  "Our Specialty Foods Group continues to be the major driver of our growth as it starts to leverage the significant investments we have made over the last several years in new production capacity.

"Most of our Specialty Foods Group's recent success has been in the US where its protein, sandwich and bakery businesses have built unique and resilient foundations for growth by finding white space opportunities.  For the quarter, these businesses' major US sales initiatives delivered 12.9% organic volume growth reaching sales of over $660 million in this market.  Looking forward, the group is in the very early innings of a transformational growth cycle and we expect it to accelerate its growth as several new product launches set for late 2024 and early 2025 begin to take hold.

"The significant momentum of our Specialty Foods Group in the U.S. was partially offset by a variety of challenges in the Canadian market, the most significant of which was weakening consumer demand that impacted our Premium Food Distribution Group's sales in both the retail and foodservice channels," stated Mr. Paleologou.  "By the end of the quarter, the Premium Food Distribution Group was seeing some stabilization in its businesses, and we are optimistic that it will resume its historic annual growth rates of 4% to 6% later in the year as inflation and interest rates continue to moderate," added Mr. Paleologou.

"Our results for the quarter represent our fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in our adjusted EBITDA margin, which increased to 9.7% from 9.3% in the second quarter of last year.  We have our mid-term target of an annual adjusted EBITDA margin of 10% well in sight and are confident we will easily exceed this in the coming years.

"We are also pleased to report the publishing of this year's CEO Letter to Shareholders titled Transformational Growth.  Over the years we have grown from a small regional food company to a large diversified food platform by investing in the right macro trends and not being distracted by industry fads.  My letter, which you can find on our website at www.premiumbrandsholdings.com, explains our progress, actions and strategies as we execute on our five-year plan," said Mr. Paleologou.

THIRD QUARTER 2024 DIVIDEND

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.85 per common share for the third quarter of 2024, which will be payable on October 15, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2024.

Unless indicated otherwise in writing at or before the time the dividend is paid, each dividend paid by the Company in 2024 or a subsequent year is an eligible dividend for the purposes of the Enhanced Dividend Tax Credit System.

ABOUT PREMIUM BRANDS

Premium Brands owns a broad range of leading specialty food manufacturing and differentiated food distribution businesses with operations across Canada and the United States.  

www.premiumbrandsholdings.com

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company reports on two reportable segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution, as well as non-segmented investment income and corporate costs (Corporate).  The Specialty Foods segment consists of the Company's specialty food manufacturing businesses while the Premium Food Distribution segment consists of the Company's differentiated distribution and wholesale businesses as well as certain seafood processing businesses.  Investment income includes interest and management fees generated from the Company's businesses that are accounted for using the equity method.

Revenue

Specialty Foods' (SF) revenue for the quarter increased by $66.8 million or 6.2% primarily due to: (i) organic volume growth of $62.4 million representing an organic volume growth rate (OVGR) of 5.8%; and (ii) an $8.5 million increase in the translated value of sales generated by SF's U.S. based businesses due to a slightly weaker Canadian dollar.  These factors were partially offset by: (i) selling price deflation of $2.1 million relating primarily to a cost-plus contract with a major foodservice customer; and (ii) the shutdown of SF's Creekside Custom Foods business as its capacity is transitioned to its rapidly growing Global Gourmet kettle business – this resulted in $2.0 million of lost sales, primarily in the fresh sandwich category.

SF's OVGR was driven by its core U.S. sales growth initiatives in sandwiches, protein and baked goods, which generated an OVGR of 12.9% and total sales of $661.4 million for the quarter.  This performance was despite: (i) several major product launches being delayed to later in 2024 and early 2025 due to a combination of new capacity startup related issues and longer than expected new business on-boarding timelines; (ii) reduced promotional activities resulting from certain features being pushed out to future quarters and/or capacity being reallocated to planned new product launches; and (iii) weaker consumer spending in the retail and convenience store channels.

SF's overall OVGR was hampered or negatively impacted by: (i) a $5.4 million contraction in Canadian sales that was primarily due to production issues associated with a major capital project – these were resolved in the quarter; (ii) weaker consumer spending in the retail, convenience store and foodservice channels in Canada; (iii) unusually poor spring weather in Canada; and (iv) reduced beef jerky product sales due to a combination of weaker consumer spending and increased selling prices resulting from high beef commodity input costs. 

SF's revenue for the first two quarters of 2024 increased by $105.5 million or 5.2% primarily due to: (i) organic volume growth of $115.4 million representing an organic volume growth rate (OVGR) of 5.7%; and (ii) an $8.8 million increase in the translated value of sales generated by SF's U.S. based businesses due to a slightly weaker Canadian dollar.  These factors were partially offset by: (i) selling price deflation of $15.1 million; and (ii) the shutdown of SF's Creekside Custom Foods that resulted in $3.6 million of lost sales.

Premium Food Distribution's (PFD) revenue for the quarter increased by $5.0 million or 0.9% due to: (i) selling price inflation of $8.2 million relating to lobster products and to a lesser extent beef products; (ii) business acquisitions, which generated $8.0 million in growth; and (iii) an $0.8 million increase in the translated value of sales generated by PFD's U.S. based businesses due to a slightly weaker Canadian dollar.  These factors were partially offset by a sales volume contraction of $12.0 million.

The contraction in PFD's sales volume, which was improved from a $25.5 million contraction in the first quarter of 2024, was primarily due to: (i) weaker consumer spending in the foodservice channel; (ii) reduced exports of live lobsters to China; and (iii) lower premium beef and seafood sales resulting from consumers trading down to discount banners and retailers featuring less premium beef products.

PFD's revenue for the first two quarters of 2024 decreased by $2.4 million or 0.2% primarily due to a sales volume contraction of $37.5 million.  This was partially offset by: (i) selling price inflation of $23.9 million relating primarily to lobster and beef products; (ii) business acquisitions, which generated $10.4 million in growth; and (iii) an $0.8 million increase in the translated value of sales generated by PFD's U.S. based businesses due to a slightly weaker Canadian dollar.

Gross Profit

SF's gross profit as a percentage of its revenue (gross margin) for the quarter increased by 30 basis points primarily due to: (i) production efficiency improvements resulting from investments in automation and new production capacity, continuous improvement projects, a more stable labor market and higher production throughput levels; and (ii) sales leveraging benefits associated with SF's organic volume growth.  These factors were partially offset by additional plant overhead costs associated with new production capacity being brought online.

SF's gross margin for the first two quarters of 2024 increased by 90 basis points primarily due to the factors impacting the second quarter as well as the impact in the first quarter of lower raw material input costs combined with selling price increases on certain products.

PFD's gross margin for the quarter and for the first two quarters of 2024 increased by 120 basis points primarily due to: (i) higher margins on processed lobster; and (ii) an increased allocation of production overhead to inventory resulting mainly from an opportunistic processed lobster inventory build made possible by an above average Canadian spring fishery.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)

SF's SG&A as a percentage of sales (SG&A ratio) for the quarter and for the first two quarters of 2024 was relatively stable as sales leveraging benefits associated with SF's organic growth offset, or partially offset in the case of the first two quarters of 2024: (i) wage inflation; and (ii) higher outside storage costs, which were mostly the result of providing a major customer with additional services, the cost of which is recovered through increased selling prices on applicable products.

PFD's SG&A ratio for the quarter and for the first two quarters of 2024 increased by 40 basis points and 50 basis points, respectively, primarily due to: (i) sales deleveraging associated with the contraction in its sales volumes; and (ii) wage inflation.

Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾

Plant Start-up and Restructuring Costs

Plant start-up and restructuring costs consist of expenses associated with: (i) the start-up of new production capacity; (ii) the reconfiguration of existing capacity to gain efficiencies and/or additional capacity; and/or (iii) the restructuring of a business to improve its profitability. The Company expects (see Forward Looking Statements) these investments to result in improvements in its future earnings and cash flows.

During the first two quarters of 2024, the Company incurred $18.4 million in plant start-up and restructuring costs relating primarily to the following projects, all of which are expected to expand its capacity and/or generate improved operating efficiencies (see Forward Looking Statements):

• Start-up of a new cooked protein capacity in Versailles, Ohio
• Start-up of new capacity associated with a 107,000 square foot expansion and reconfiguration of a meat snack and processed meats facility in Ferndale, Washington
• Reconfiguration of two deli meats facilities in Ontario to improve production efficiencies and increase dry cured production capacity
• Construction of a new 165,000 square foot distribution center and the related reconfiguration of a sandwich production facility in Columbus, Ohio
• Start-up of a new 91,000 square foot artisan bakery in San Francisco, California
• Reconfiguration of a kettle cooking facility in Richmond, British Columbia
• Reconfiguration of a 27,000 square foot production facility in Richmond, British Columbia, from primarily fresh sandwich production to supporting the Company's Global Gourmet kettle business
• Construction of a new 60,000 square foot value-added seafood processing facility in Auburn, Maine

Equity Earnings (Loss) from Investments in Associates

Equity earnings (loss) from investments in associates includes the Company's proportionate share of the earnings and losses of its investments in associates.

Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated (Clearwater)

Clearwater's revenue for the second quarter increased by $8.4 million primarily due to: (i) strong turbot catch rates resulting from a new harvesting vessel that came into operation at the start of 2024; (ii) improved Argentine scallop harvesting conditions; and (iii) the recovery of snow crab sales driven by normalization of industry inventory levels and a strong Canadian spring fishery.  These factors were partially offset by: (i) lower Canadian scallop sales due to a reduction in the total allowable catch and natural catch quality variability; and (ii) reduced harvesting of Canadian frozen-at-sea shrimp caused by weather-related issues.

Clearwater's earnings before payments to shareholders for the second quarter decreased by $2.1 million primarily due to: (i) increased depreciation, primarily related to a new shrimp and turbot harvesting vessel; (ii) lower unrealized foreign currency exchange gains; (iii) restructuring costs associated with several corporate initiatives; and (iv) higher interest due mainly to general market rate increases.  These factors were partially offset by an improvement in Clearwater's adjusted EBITDA that was driven by its sales growth and lower SG&A costs.

Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Outlook

See Forward Looking Statements for a discussion of the risks and assumptions associated with forward looking statements.

2024 Outlook

While the Company is maintaining its 2024 guidance for sales of $6.65 billion to $6.85 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $630 million to $650 million, and it remains on track to achieve its short and long-term strategic objectives, it is, out of an abundance of caution, increasing the probability of being at the lower end of both of its guidance ranges based on: (i) several major product launches being delayed to later in 2024 and early 2025 due to a combination of capacity start-up related issues and longer than expected new business on-boarding timelines; and (ii) weaker than expected trends in consumer spending in the foodservice channel.

The Company's guidance is based on a range of assumptions (see Forward Looking Statements) including: (i) reasonably stable economic environments in Canada and the U.S. with inflation and interest rates moderating over the balance of the year; (ii) stable average raw material costs; and (iii) a stable Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.  Furthermore, its guidance does not incorporate any potential acquisitions, which it continues to actively pursue (see Forward Looking Statements).

5 Year Plan

The Company remains on track (see Forward Looking Statements) to meet or exceed the five-year targets it set at the beginning of 2023.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company uses certain non-IFRS financial measures including adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share, which are not defined under IFRS and, as a result, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded entities, nor should they be construed as an alternative to other earnings measures determined in accordance with IFRS.  These non-IFRS measures are calculated as follows:

Adjusted EBITDA

Free Cash Flow

Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings per Share

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward looking statements with respect to the Company, including, without limitation, statements regarding its business operations, strategy and financial performance and condition, cash distributions, proposed acquisitions, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. While management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable and represent the Company's internal expectations and belief as of August 8, 2024, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct as such forward looking statements involve unknown risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control which may cause its actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. 

Forward looking statements generally can be identified by the use of the words "may", "could", "should", "would", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations.  Forward looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to the Company's expectations and/or projections on its: revenue; adjusted EBITDA; plant start-up and restructuring costs; income tax rates; dividends and dividend policy; capital expenditures and business acquisitions; convertible debentures; net working capital; liquidity outlook; provisions; financial leverage ratios; value of puttable interests; and sale and leaseback and lease renewal transactions.

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are referenced in the Risks and Uncertainties section in the Company's MD&A for the 13 and 26 Weeks Ended June 29, 2024.

Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this press release are based on information currently available to it and include those outlined below as well as those outlined elsewhere in this document.  Readers are cautioned that this information is not exhaustive.

• Economic conditions in Canada and the United States will remain relatively stable with interest rates and inflation continuing to moderate.
• The Company will be able to achieve the projected sales growth and operating efficiency improvement associated with the significant capital investments it has made in recent years.
• There will not be any material changes in the long-term food trends that have been driving growth in many of the Company's businesses.  These include: (i) growing demand for higher quality foods made with simpler, more wholesome ingredients and/or with differentiated attributes such as antibiotic free, no added hormones or use of organic ingredients; (ii) increased reliance on healthier and less processed convenience-oriented foods both for on-the-go snacking as well as easy meal preparation, both at home and in foodservice; (iii) healthier eating, including reduced sugar consumption and an increased emphasis on animal protein and seafood; (iv) increased snacking in between and in place of meals; (v) increased interest in understanding the provenance of individual food products; and (vi) increased social awareness of issues such as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, sustainability, and ethical supply chain practices.
• There will not be any material changes in the competitive environment of the markets in which the Company's businesses compete. 
• There will not be any material changes in the Company's relationships with its larger customers including the loss of a major product listing and/or being forced to give significant product pricing concessions.
• There will not be any material changes in the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S.
• The average cost of the basket of procured products and raw materials purchased by the Company will remain relatively stable. 
• The Company will be able to access sufficient goods and services for its manufacturing and distribution operations.
• The Company will be able to access sufficient skilled and unskilled labor at reasonable wage levels.
• The value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar will fluctuate in line with the levels seen over the last several months.
• The Company's major capital projects, plant start-up and restructuring, and business acquisition initiatives will progress in line with its expectations.
• Weather conditions in the Company's core markets will not have a significant impact on any of its businesses.
• The Company will be able to negotiate new collective agreements with no labor disruptions. 
• The Company will be able to access reasonably priced debt and equity capital.
• Contractual counterparties will continue to fulfill their obligations to the Company.
• There will be no material changes to the tax, environmental and other regulatory requirements governing the Company.

Management has set out the above summary of assumptions related to forward looking statements included in this press release to provide a more complete perspective on the Company's future operations.  Readers are cautioned that these statements may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Unless otherwise indicated, the forward looking statements in this press release are made as of August 8, 2024 and, except as required by applicable law, will not be publicly updated or revised.  This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward-looking statements in this press release.

SOURCE Premium Brands Holdings Corporation