Laird Superfood Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Laird Superfood, Inc. (NYSE American: LSF) (“Laird Superfood”), today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

First Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Net Sales increased to $7.4 million, an increase of 35% year over year.
• Online sales contributed 59% of net sales, increasing 65% year over year, with lairdsuperfood.com sales growing 135% year over year, and subscribers growing 153%.
• Wholesale sales contributed 39% of net sales, increasing 7% year over year, and included retail door expansion, beginning in March, into Target, Harris Teeter and Wakefern.
• Gross profit was $1.9 million and gross margin was 25.1% compared to gross profit of $2.1 million and gross margin of 38.6% in the prior year quarter.
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $5.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of $2.0 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the prior year period.

“Our first quarter 2021 results illustrate the power of our omnichannel platform as we continued aggressively scaling our business,” said Paul Hodge Jr., Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laird Superfood. “Gross margins improved 480 basis points from the fourth quarter, and net sales increased 35% year over year, including a 65% increase in our dominant online channel. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we completed the acquisition of Picky Bars, a fellow Central-Oregon based company that is aligned with our core values, our mission and our strategic goals. We are very excited to integrate their healthy snacks and breakfast products across the entire omnichannel platform,” concluded Hodge Jr.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021							2020
		$				% of Total			$				% of Total
Coffee Creamers		$	5,021,908			68	%		$	4,019,362			73	%
Hydration and Beverage Enhancing Supplements			1,064,576			14	%			858,707			16	%
Coffee, Tea, and Hot Chocolate Products			1,900,832			26	%			740,572			14	%
Other			359,321			5	%			59,590			1	%
Gross Sales			8,346,637			113	%			5,678,231			104	%
Shipping income			25,659			0	%			151,551			3	%
Returns and discounts			(946,042	)		(13	%)			(346,556	)		(7	%)
Sales, net		$	7,426,254			100	%		$	5,483,226			100	%
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021							2020
		$				% of Total			$				% of Total
Online		$	4,362,407			59	%		$	2,650,741			48	%
Wholesale			2,923,056			39	%			2,727,812			50	%
Food Service			140,791			2	%			104,673			2	%
Sales, net		$	7,426,254			100	%		$	5,483,226			100	%

Net sales increased 35% to $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $5.5 million in the first quarter of 2020. Growth in net sales in the first quarter of 2021 was primarily driven by a significant expansion of our customer base in online channels.

Gross profit was $1.9 million, slightly lower compared to the prior year period of $2.1 million. Gross margin was 25.1% of net sales in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 38.6% of net sales in the prior year period. The year over year decrease in gross margin was primarily due to elevated outbound shipping costs combined with the launch of a free shipping initiative for direct online purchases made on lairdsuperfood.com, increased personnel costs, disposal costs related to the initial production and distribution of our liquid creamer product line, and increased co-packing costs primarily associated with our liquid creamer product line.

Operating expenses were $7.2 million compared to $4.1 million in the year ago period and reflect General and Administrative expense increases of $2.0 million, primarily due to stock-based compensation, personnel costs, insurance expense, and professional fees, as well as Sales and Marketing expense increases of $0.9 million, primarily due to advertising expense.

Loss from operations was $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to a loss of $2.0 million in the prior year period.

Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $5.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2021, compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders of $2.0 million, or $0.47 per diluted share.

Valerie Ells, Chief Financial Officer, commented, “The first quarter of 2021 illustrated the power of our online platform, a meaningful step forward in gross margin, and yet another quarter of year over year sales growth. As we progress into the year, our priorities will remain focused on market share, expanding our customer growth, optimizing our margins and integrating our recently announced acquisition. We demonstrated again this quarter that consumers who seek healthy, plant-based, sustainable products repeatedly purchase our authentic offerings across our dynamic, omnichannel platform.”

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

The Company’s current assets include cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $51.7 million as of March 31, 2021. Total outstanding debt was $51,000 as of March 31, 2021. Net cash used in operating activities was $5.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $2.3 million in the comparative prior year period.

Capital expenditures totaled $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $0.1 million in the comparative prior year period.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET today to discuss results. The live conference call can be accessed by dialing [phone] from the U.S. or [phone] internationally. The conference I.D. code is 1495851. Alternatively, participants may access the live webcast on the Laird Superfood Investor Relations website at https://investors.lairdsuperfood.com under “Events.”

About Laird Superfood

Laird Superfood, Inc. creates award-winning, plant-based superfood products that are both delicious and functional. The Company's products are designed to enhance your daily ritual and keep consumers fueled naturally throughout the day. The Company was co-founded in 2015 by the world's most prolific big-wave surfer, Laird Hamilton. Laird Superfood's offerings are environmentally conscientious, responsibly tested, and made with real ingredients. Shop all products online at lairdsuperfood.com and join the Laird Superfood community on social media for the latest news and daily doses of inspiration.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and the earnings call referencing this press release contain “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined under the federal securities laws, including but not limited to statements regarding Laird Superfood’s future financial performance, including our outlook for fiscal year 2021. These forward-looking statements are based on Laird Superfood’s current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause Laird Superfood’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The risks and uncertainties referred to above include, but are not limited to: (1) the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic, or of other global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks, including on our supply chain, the demand for our products, and on overall economic conditions and consumer confidence and spending levels; (2) our expectations regarding our revenue, expenses, including shipping expenses, and other operating results; (3) our ability to acquire new direct and wholesale customers and successfully retain existing customers; (4) our ability to attract and retain our suppliers, distributors and co-manufacturers, and effectively manage their costs and performance; (5) our expectations regarding real or perceived quality with our products or other issues that adversely affect our brand and reputation; (6) our ability to innovate on a timely and cost-effective basis, predict changes in consumer preferences and develop successful new products, or updates to existing products, and develop innovative marketing strategies; (7) expectations regarding prices and availability of raw materials and other inputs, a substantial amount of which come from a limited number of suppliers outside the United States, including in areas which may be adversely affected by climate change; (8) effects of changes in the tastes and preferences of our consumers and consumer preferences for natural and organic food products; (9) the financial condition of, and our relationships with, our suppliers, co-manufacturers, distributors, retailers and foodservice customers, as well as the health of the foodservice industry generally; (10) effects of real or perceived quality or health issues with our products or other issues that adversely affect our brand and reputation; (11) the ability of ourselves, our suppliers and co-manufacturers to comply with food safety, environmental or other laws or regulations; (12) our plans for future investments in our business, our anticipated capital expenditures and our estimates regarding our capital requirements; (13) the costs and success of our marketing efforts, and our ability to promote our brand; (14) our reliance on our executive team and other key personnel and our ability to identify, recruit and retain skilled and general working personnel; (15) our ability to effectively manage our growth; (16) our ability to compete effectively with existing competitors and new market entrants; (17) the impact of adverse economic conditions; and (18) the growth rates of the markets in which we compete.

LAIRD SUPERFOOD, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
		For the Quarters Ended March 31,
			2021				2020
Sales, net		$	7,426,254			$	5,483,226
Cost of goods sold			(5,559,499	)			(3,365,609	)
Gross profit			1,866,755				2,117,617
General and administrative
Salaries, wages and benefits			1,205,854				816,172
Stock-based compensation			899,235				183,203
Professional fees			343,622				182,048
Insurance expense			522,399				31,195
Office expense			186,831				113,365
Occupancy			56,521				53,431
Merchant service fees			106,375				56,035
Netsuite subscription expense			55,021				26,395
Other expense			267,536				137,728
Total general and administrative expenses			3,643,394				1,599,572
Research and product development
Salaries, wages and benefits			70,361				74,902
Product development expense			162,844				57,743
Stock-based compensation			3,567				2,192
Other expense			3,915				8,478
Total research and product development expenses			240,687				143,315
Sales and marketing
Salaries, wages and benefits			633,751				746,009
Stock-based compensation			41,389				74,495
Advertising			1,681,344				936,363
General marketing			710,523				309,222
Amazon selling fee			202,276				187,571
Travel expense			8,756				70,014
Other expense			49,040				69,141
Total sales and marketing expenses			3,327,079				2,392,815
Total expenses			7,211,160				4,135,702
Operating loss			(5,344,405	)			(2,018,085	)
Other income (expense)
Interest and dividend income			13,901				22,854
Total other income			13,901				22,854
Loss before income taxes			(5,330,504	)			(1,995,231	)
Benefit from income taxes			-				-
Net loss attributable to Laird Superfood, Inc. common stockholders		$	(5,330,504	)		$	(1,995,231	)
Net loss per share attributable to Laird Superfood, Inc common stockholders:
Basic		$	(0.60	)		$	(0.47	)
Diluted		$	(0.60	)		$	(0.47	)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted			8,894,495				4,281,346
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

LAIRD SUPERFOOD, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
		For the Quarter Ended March 31,
			2021				2020
Cash flows used in operating activities
Net loss		$	(5,330,504	)		$	(1,995,231	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation			131,333				114,901
Amortization			5,270				2,524
Loss on disposal of equipment			2,325				-
Stock-based compensation			1,010,003				258,486
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory			102,604				-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			69,504				(1,259,099	)
Accrued investment income receivable			(3,969	)			4,847
Inventory			(1,500,686	)			271,028
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(55,465	)			(357,734	)
Deferred rent			90,054				90,622
Deposits			(391,149	)			(17,191	)
Accounts payable			284,681				340,271
Payroll liabilities			289,308				142,208
Accrued expenses			153,306				60,604
Net cash from operating activities		$	(5,143,385	)		$	(2,343,764	)
Cash flows used in investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment			(122,588	)			(115,669	)
Purchase of software			(78,200	)			-
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment, and software			700				-
Net cash from investing activities		$	(200,088	)		$	(115,669	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of common stock			-				1,997,665
Common stock issuance costs			(82,043	)			-
Common stock repurchases			-				(20,532	)
Withholding tax payments for share based compensation			(188,793	)			-
Stock options exercised			151,646				6,030
Net cash from financing activities		$	(119,190	)		$	1,983,163
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(5,462,663	)			(476,270	)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period			57,208,080				1,004,109
Cash and cash equivalents end of period		$	51,745,417			$	527,839
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash information
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		$	(20,290	)		$	31,090
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

LAIRD SUPERFOOD, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
		As of
		March 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	51,745,417			$	57,208,080
Accounts receivable, net			770,155				839,659
Investment securities available-for-sale			8,690,523				8,706,844
Inventory			7,693,980				6,295,898
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			2,902,784				2,847,319
Deposits			488,823				97,674
Total current assets			72,291,682				75,995,474
Noncurrent assets
Property and equipment, net			3,501,718				3,513,488
Licensing agreement - intangible			132,100				132,100
Deferred rent			2,606,592				2,696,646
Other assets			77,922				4,992
Total noncurrent assets			6,318,332				6,347,226
Total assets		$	78,610,014			$	82,342,700
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	1,600,645			$	1,315,964
Payroll liabilities			1,012,223				722,915
Accrued expenses			857,849				704,543
Total current liabilities			3,470,717				2,743,422
Long-term liabilities
Note payable			51,000				51,000
Total long-term liabilities			51,000				51,000
Total liabilities			3,521,717				2,794,422
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 and 9,600,000 shares authorized
as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020; 9,285,782 and 8,921,034
issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021, respectively; 9,247,758
and 8,892,886 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020, respectively			8,921				8,893
Additional paid-in capital			112,343,131				111,452,346
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(6,083	)			14,207
Accumulated deficit			(37,257,672	)			(31,927,168	)
Total stockholders' equity			75,088,297				79,548,278
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity		$	78,610,014			$	82,342,700
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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