First Quarter Net Sales Increased Approximately 16%

Company Reiterates 2016 Guidance

SECAUCUS, N.J., May 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshpet, Inc. (“Freshpet” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:FRPT) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

First Quarter 2016 Financial Highlights Compared to Prior Year Period

• Net sales were $31.5 million, up 16.3%
• Adjusted EBITDA was $2.5 million, up 23.7%
• Freshpet Fridges increased 10.1% to 15,429 from 14,019

“We are pleased with our start to 2016 and the significant progress we made across key operational and financial business metrics,” said Richard Thompson, Freshpet’s Chief Executive Officer. “In the first quarter we generated solid net sales and adjusted EBITDA growth as we continued to benefit from increased velocity per fridge and increased store count. We expect our efforts to drive greater leverage across our business model, improve profitability and enhance long-term shareholder value as we progress through 2016.”

First Quarter 2016

Net sales increased 16.3% to $31.5 million for the first quarter of 2016.  Net sales for the quarter were driven by velocity gains across all retail sales channels and the increase of Freshpet Fridge store locations, which grew to 15,429 as of March 31, 2016, an increase of 10.1% as compared to the prior year period.

Gross profit was $14.9 million, or 47.3% of net sales, compared to $13.3 million, or 49.0% of net sales, in the same period last year. Non-capitalizable start-up costs associated with the expansion of our Freshpet Kitchens reduced gross margin by approximately 80 basis points in the first quarter of 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) were $16.5 million compared to $15.7 million in the same period in the prior year. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A decreased from 57.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 to 52.4% in the current year period. After adjusting $1.0 million and $1.8 million for non-cash items related to share-based compensation in the first quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively, SG&A decreased as a percentage of net sales to 49.4% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 51.3% of net sales in the first quarter of 2015.

Net loss was $1.8 million compared to a net loss of $2.6 million for the same period in 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA was $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $2.0 million in the same period in 2015. 

Cash and Net Debt

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company generated cash of $2.0 million from operations compared to $1.1 million during the same period in 2015.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $0.3 million and a line of credit for $40 million.  The Company expects to draw $8 to $10 million by the third quarter of 2016, which is expected to be repaid in the first quarter of 2017. The $11.0 million decrease in cash, cash equivalents and short term investments from December 31, 2015 is primarily due to the capital expenditures related to the expansion of the Company’s Freshpet Kitchens in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Company expects to invest up to $7.0 million during the remainder of 2016 to complete that project on time and on budget.

Outlook

The Company reiterated its guidance for 2016.  For full year 2016, the Company expects the following results compared to the prior year:

• To exceed net sales of $137 million, an increase of approximately 18%
• To exceed Adjusted EBITDA of $18.5 million, an increase of approximately 67%
• To exceed Freshpet fridges of 16,600, an increase of approximately 10%

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call with members of the executive management team to discuss these results with additional comments and details. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. To participate on the live call listeners in North America may dial (844) 452-6821 and international listeners may dial (724) 924-4985; the passcode is 94168308.

In addition, the call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the "Investor" section of the Company's website at www.freshpet.com and will be archived online through May 18, 2016. A telephonic playback will be available from 7:30 p.m. ET, May 4, 2016, through May 18, 2016. North American listeners may dial (855) 859-2056 and international listeners may dial (404) 537-3406; the passcode is 94168308.

About Freshpet

Freshpet has a single-minded mission – to improve the lives of dogs and cats everywhere through the power of fresh, natural food. Packed with vitamins and proteins, Freshpet foods offer fresh meats, poultry, and vegetables farmed locally. At our Freshpet Kitchens, we thoughtfully prepare these natural ingredients and everyday essentials, cooking them in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve key nutrients. That way, your pet gets the best. Freshpet refrigerated foods and treats are kept cool from the moment they are made until they arrive at Freshpet Fridges in your local market.

Freshpet foods are available in select mass, grocery, natural food, club, and pet specialty retailers across the United States and Canada. From the care Freshpet takes to source their ingredients and make their food, to the moment it reaches your home, Freshpet’s integrity, transparency and social responsibility are the way they like to run their business. To learn more, visit www.freshpet.com. 

Connect with Freshpet:

Freshpet Facebook

https://twitter.com/Freshpet 

http://instagram.com/Freshpet 

http://pinterest.com/Freshpet 

https://plus.google.com/+Freshpet 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshpet 

https://www.youtube.com/user/freshpet400 

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking” statements. These statements are based on management's current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. While Freshpet believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, most prominently, the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Freshpet undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, is meaningful to investors because it provides a view of the Company with respect to ongoing operating results. EBITDA represents net loss plus depreciation and amortization, interest expense, and income tax expense, and Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA plus loss on disposal of equipment, plant startup expense, share based compensation, warrant fair valuation and launch expenses.  Adjusted EBITDA is shown as a supplemental disclosure in this release because it is widely used by the investment community for analysis and comparative evaluation and provides an additional metric to evaluate the Company’s operations and, when considered with both the Company’s GAAP results and the reconciliation to net income (loss), provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. Adjusted EBITDA is not and should not be considered an alternative to net income (loss) or any other figure calculated in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of operating performance. The Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from methods used by other companies. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is important to an understanding of the Company's overall operating results in the periods presented. Adjusted EBITDA is not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. We have not reconciled our expected Adjusted EBITDA to net income under “Outlook” because we have not finalized our calculations of several factors necessary to provide the reconciliation, including net income, interest expense and income tax expense. In addition, certain items that impact net income and other reconciling metrics are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted at this time.

CONTACT

ICR

Katie Turner
646-277-1228
katie.turner@icrinc.com

Michael Fox
203-682-8218
Michael.fox@icrinc.com