Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
Some
of the matters discussed under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operation,” “Business,” “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report include forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have based
these forward-looking statements upon information available to management as of the date of this Form 10-Q and management’s
expectations and projections about future events, including, among other things:
●
our
dependency on a single commodity could affect our revenues and profitability;
●
our
success in expanding our market presence in new geographic regions;
●
the
effectiveness of our hedging policy may impact our profitability;
●
the
success of our joint ventures;
●
our
success in implementing our business strategy or introducing new products;
●
our
ability to attract and retain customers;
●
our
ability to obtain additional financing;
●
our
ability to comply with the restrictive covenants we are subject to under our current financing;
●
the
effects of competition from other coffee manufacturers and other beverage alternatives;
●
the
impact to the operations of our Colorado facility;
●
general
economic conditions and conditions which affect the market for coffee;
●
the
potential adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and results, including as a result of the loss of adequate
labor, any prolonged closures, or series of temporary closures, of our supply chain, or changes in consumer behaviors, when
stay-at-home restriction orders are lifted and/or as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on financial markets
and economic conditions;
●
our
expectations regarding, and the stability of, our supply chain, including potential shortages or interruptions in the supply
or delivery of green coffee, as a result of COVID-19 or otherwise;
●
the
macro global economic environment;
●
our
ability to maintain and develop our brand recognition;
●
the
impact of rapid or persistent fluctuations in the price of coffee beans;
●
fluctuations
in the supply of coffee beans;
●
the
volatility of our common stock; and
●
other
risks which we identify in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,”
“predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,”
“intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate” and similar expressions (or the negative
of such expressions). Any or all of our forward looking statements in this quarterly report and in any other public statements
we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and
uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. In addition we undertake no responsibility to update
any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this quarterly report.
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Overview
We
are an integrated wholesale coffee roaster and dealer in the United States and one of the few coffee companies that offers a broad
array of coffee products across the entire spectrum of consumer tastes, preferences and price points. As a result, we believe
that we are well-positioned to increase our profitability and endure potential coffee price volatility throughout varying cycles
of the coffee market and economic conditions.
Our
operations have primarily focused on the following areas of the coffee industry:
●
the
sale of wholesale specialty green coffee;
●
the
roasting, blending, packaging and sale of private label coffee;
●
the
roasting, blending, packaging and sale of our eight brands of coffee; and
●
sales
of our tabletop coffee roasting equipment.
Our
operating results are affected by a number of factors including:
●
the
level of marketing and pricing competition from existing or new competitors in the coffee industry;
●
our
ability to retain existing customers and attract new customers;
●
our
hedging policy;
●
fluctuations
in purchase prices and supply of green coffee and in the selling prices of our products; and
●
our
ability to manage inventory and fulfillment operations and maintain gross margins.
Our
net sales are driven primarily by the success of our sales and marketing efforts and our ability to retain existing customers
and attract new customers. For this reason, we have made, and will continue to evaluate, strategic decisions to acquire and invest
in measures that are expected to increase net sales. In addition to our acquisitions, in October 2020, we entered into an agreement
to become a 49% owner in The Jordre Well, a CBD beverage company (“The Jordre Well”). Under the terms of the agreement
with The Jordre Well, The Jordre Well will assist us in the development and commercialization of CBD-infused line extensions for
the existing coffee brands within our portfolio, as well as launch new brands that are intended to serve consumer demand for non-coffee
CBD-infused beverages and products. We believe these efforts will allow us to expand our business.
Our
sales are affected by the price of green coffee. We purchase our green coffee from dealers located primarily within the United
States. The dealers supply us with coffee beans from many countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia, Brazil and
Uganda. The supply and price of coffee beans are subject to volatility and are influenced by numerous factors which are beyond
our control. For example, in Brazil, which produces approximately 40% of the world’s green coffee, the coffee crops are
historically susceptible to frost in June and July and drought in September, October and November. However, because we purchase
coffee from a number of countries and are able to freely substitute one country’s coffee for another in our products, price
fluctuations in one country generally have not had a material impact on the price we pay for coffee. Accordingly, price fluctuations
in one country generally have not had a material effect on our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. Historically,
because we generally have been able to pass green coffee price increases through to customers, increased prices of green coffee
generally result in increased net sales, irrespective of sales volume.
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The
supply and price of coffee beans are subject to volatility and are influenced by numerous factors which are beyond our control.
Historically, we have used, and intend to continue to use in a limited capacity, short-term coffee futures and options contracts
primarily for the purpose of partially hedging the effects of changing green coffee prices. In addition, we acquired, and expect
to continue to acquire, futures contracts with longer terms, generally three to four months, primarily for the purpose of guaranteeing
an adequate supply of green coffee. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on options and futures contracts are reflected in
our cost of sales. Gains on options and futures contracts reduce our cost of sales and losses on options and futures contracts
increase our cost of sales. The use of these derivative financial instruments has generally enabled us to mitigate the effect
of changing prices. We believe that, in normal economic times, our hedging policies remain a vital element to our business model
not only in controlling our cost of sales, but also giving us the flexibility to obtain the inventory necessary to continue to
grow our sales while trying to minimize margin compression during a time of historically high coffee prices. However, no strategy
can entirely eliminate pricing risks and we generally remain exposed to losses on futures contracts when prices decline significantly
in a short period of time, and we would generally remain exposed to supply risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties
to any of our futures contracts. Although we have had net gains on options and futures contracts in the past, we have incurred
significant losses on options and futures contracts during some recent reporting periods. In these cases, our cost of sales has
increased, resulting in a decrease in our profitability or increase our losses. Such losses have and could in the future materially
increase our cost of sales and materially decrease our profitability and adversely affect our stock price. If our hedging policy
is not effective, we may not be able to control our coffee costs, we may be forced to pay greater than market value for green
coffee and our profitability may be reduced.” Failure to properly design and implement an effective hedging strategy may
materially adversely affect our business and operating results. If the hedges that we enter do not adequately offset the risks
of coffee bean price volatility or our hedges result in losses, our cost of sales may increase, resulting in a decrease in profitability
or increased losses. As previously announced, as a result of the volatile nature of the commodities markets, we have and are continuing
to scale back our use of hedging and short-term trading of coffee futures and options contracts, and intend to continue to use
these practices in a limited capacity going forward.
COVID-19
Pandemic
The
global outbreak of COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a national emergency by the U.S. government
in March 2020 and has negatively affected the U.S. and global economies, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant
travel and transport restrictions, mandated closures and stay-at-home orders, and created significant disruption of the financial
markets. However, we are classified as an essential business and its factories continued to operate with little to no impact from
the pandemic-related closures.
To
date, we have experienced minimal disruption to our supply chain or distribution network, including the supply of green coffee
beans, though it is possible that more significant disruptions could occur if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact markets
around the world. We are also working closely with all of our business partners. As a food producer, we are an essential service
and almost all of our employees continue to work within our production and distribution facilities.
The
COVID-19 pandemic has had a material adverse impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended
January 31, 2021, and it has resulted, and is expected to continue to result for at least the near and immediate term, in significant
economic disruptions and changes to consumer behaviors in the United States, which, has impacted and is expected to continue to
negatively impact our business. Many of our customers who purchase green coffee from us for use in cafés, restaurants and
food service operations, were forced to temporarily suspend or close operations, adversely impacting our sales to customers in
that segment. However, as sales to the café, restaurant and food service segment decreased in the quarter, sales to large
wholesaler and retail customers increased, as there was a shift in buying and consumption of coffee products to this segment.
The
continuing impact on our business, including the length and impact of stay-at-home orders and/or regional quarantines, labor shortages
and employment trends, disruptions to supply chains, including our ability to obtain products from global suppliers, higher operating
costs, the form and impact of economic stimulus and general overall economic instability, is uncertain at this time and could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts
reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the
allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories, assets held for sale, business combinations, carrying amounts of intangible assets
and goodwill, deferred taxes, income taxes, commodities held and loss contingencies. Management bases its estimates on historical
experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ
from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
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We
believe the following critical accounting policies, among others, may be impacted significantly by judgment, assumptions and estimates
used in the preparation of the financial statements:
●
The
Company has adopted the new revenue recognition standard ASC 606 on November 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method.
The majority of the Company’s business is ship and bill. The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the five-step
model in which the Company evaluates the transfer of promised goods or services and recognizes revenue when its customer obtains
control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to be entitled
to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements, the Company performs
the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract,
(3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and
(5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
●
Effective
November 1, 2019, we adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). The new guidance increases transparency by requiring
the recognition of right to use assets and lease liabilities on the statement of financial condition. The recognition of these
lease assets and lease liabilities represents a change from previous US GAAP requirement, which did not require lease assets
and lease liabilities to be recognized for most operating leases. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses
and cash flows arising from a lease, have not significantly changed from previous US GAAP requirements. On November 1, 2019,
the effective date of ASC 842, existing leases of ours were required to be recognized and measured. Additionally any leases
entered into during the year were also required to recognized and measured. In applying ASC 842, we made an accounting policy
election not to recognize the right of use assets and lease liabilities relating to short-term leases. Implementation of ASC
842 included an analysis of contracts, including real estate leases and service contracts to identify embedded leases, to
determine the initial recognition of the right to use assets and lease liabilities, which required subjective assessment over
the determination of the associated discount rates to apply in determining the lease liabilities. The new standard provides
a number of transition practical expedients, which we have elected, including: A “package of three” expedients
that must be taken together and allow entities to (1) not reassess whether existing contracts contain leases, (2) carryforward
the existing lease classification, and (3) not reassess initial direct costs associated with existing leases.
●
Our
allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained to provide for losses arising from customers’ inability to make required
payments. If there is deterioration of our customers’ credit worthiness and/or there is an increase in the length of
time that the receivables are past due greater than the historical assumptions used, additional allowances may be required.
For example, every additional one percent of our net accounts receivable that becomes uncollectible, would decrease our operating
income by approximately $78,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2021. The reserve for sales discounts represents the
estimated discount that customers will take upon payment. The reserve for other allowances represents the estimated amount
of returns, slotting fees and volume based discounts estimated to be incurred by us from our customers.
●
Inventories
are stated at lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market. Based on our assumptions about future demand
and market conditions, inventories are subject to be written-down to market value. If our assumptions about future demand
change and/or actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected, additional write-downs of inventories may
be required. Each additional one percent of potential inventory write-down would have decreased operating income by approximately
$157,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2021.
●
The
commodities held at broker represent the market value of our trading account, which consists of option and futures contracts
for coffee held with a brokerage firm. We use options and futures contracts, which are not designated or qualifying as hedging
instruments, to partially hedge the effects of fluctuations in the price of green coffee beans. Options and futures contracts
are recognized at fair value in the consolidated financial statements with current recognition of gains and losses on such
positions. We classify options and futures contracts as trading securities and accordingly, unrealized holding gains and losses
are included in earnings. We record realized and unrealized gains and losses in our cost of sales in the statement of operations/income.
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●
We
account for income taxes in accordance with the relevant authoritative guidance. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed
for temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable
or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected
to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reflected on the balance sheet when it is determined that it is more likely than not that
the asset will be realized.
●
Our
goodwill consists of the cost in excess of the fair market value of the acquired net assets of OPTCO, SONO, CFI and Steep
& Brew, through GCC, which has been integrated into a structure that does not provide the basis for separate reporting
units. Consequently, we are a single reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes. We also have intangible assets
consisting of our customer lists and relationships and trademarks acquired from OPTCO and SONO. At January 31, 2021 our balance
sheet reflected goodwill and intangible assets as set forth below:
January
31, 2021
Customer list and relationships,
net
$ 479,933
Non-compete, net
44,550
Trademarks and tradenames
1,488,000
Goodwill
2,488,785
$ 4,501,268
Goodwill
and the trademarks which are deemed to have indefinite lives are subject to annual impairment tests. Goodwill impairment tests
require the comparison of the fair value and carrying value of reporting units. We assess the potential impairment of goodwill
and intangible assets annually and on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
value may not be recoverable. Upon completion of such review, if impairment is found to have occurred, a corresponding charge
will be recorded. The value assigned to the customer list and relationships is being amortized over a twenty year period. The
value assigned to non-compete is being amortized over a five year period.
Because
we are a single reporting unit, the closing Nasdaq Capital Market price of our common stock as of the acquisition date was used
as the basis to measure the fair value of goodwill. Goodwill and the intangible assets will be tested annually at the end of each
fiscal year to determine whether they have been impaired. Upon completion of each annual review, there can be no assurance that
a material charge will not be recorded. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates
that an impairment or decline in value may have occurred.
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Three
Months Ended January 31, 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended January 31, 2020 (restated)
Net
Sales. Net sales totaled $18,133,837 for the three months ended January 31, 2021, an increase of $1,006,794, or 6%, from
$17,127,043 for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The increase in net sales was due to the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic
which caused many of our green coffee customers who service the restaurant and food service industries to reopen.
Cost
of Sales. Cost of sales for the three months ended January 31, 2021 was $13,654,169, or 75.3% of net sales, as compared
to $14,012,289, or 81.8% of net sales, for the three months January 31, 2020. Cost of sales consists primarily of the cost of
green coffee and packaging materials and realized and unrealized gains or losses on hedging activity. The decrease in cost of
sales was due to favorable green coffee position and hedging.
Gross
Profit. Gross profit for the three months ended January 31, 2021 amounted to $4,479,668 or 24.7% of net sales, as compared
to $3,114,754 or 18.2% of net sales, for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The increase in gross profits was attributable
to increased margins on our roasted and branded products partially due to the movement of lower cost green coffee inventory
built up in previous quarters.
Operating
Expenses. Total operating expenses decreased by $361,767 to $3,313,286 for the three months ended January 31, 2021 from
$3,675,053 for the three months ended January 31, 2020. Selling and administrative expenses decreased by $344,743 and officers’
salaries decreased by $17,024. Our efforts to control costs through the elimination of redundancy in our operations and the elimination
of certain unnecessary variable costs were the primary reasons for this decrease. These efforts were partially offset by the increase in our freight costs as we increased and expanded our product distribution.
Other
Income (Expense). Other expense for the three months ended January 31, 2021 was $28,857, a decrease of $27,444 from $56,301
for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The decrease in other expense was attributable to a decrease in interest expense
of $29,065, an increase in our loss from our equity investments of $1,287 and a decrease in our interest income of $334, during
the three months ended January 31, 2021.
Income
Taxes . Our provision for income taxes for the three months ended January 31, 2021 totaled $381,243 compared to a benefit
of $65,416 for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The change was primarily attributable to the difference in the income
for the quarter ended January 31, 2021 versus the income in the quarter ended January 31, 2020.
Net
Income . We had net income of $677,312 or $0.12 per share basic and diluted, for the three months ended January 31, 2021
compared to a net loss of $599,848, or $0.11 per share basic and diluted for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The increase
in net income was due primarily to the reasons described above.
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Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As
of January 31, 2021, we had working capital of $22,539,372, which represented a $1,500,166 decrease from our working capital of
$24,039,538 as of October 31, 2020, and total stockholders’ equity of $27,385,746 which increased by $867,080 from our total
stockholders’ equity of $26,518,666 as of October 31, 2020. Our working capital decreased primarily due to decreases of
$146,339 in cash, $1,403,694 in inventories, $85,114 in prepaid and refundable income taxes, increases of $708,929 in accounts
payable and accrued expenses, increases of $115,411 in income taxes payable, partially offset by increase of $399,548 in accounts
receivable, $19,408 in prepaid expenses, reductions of $124,044 in lease liabilities – current portion, $1,246 in note payable
– current portion, $415,075 in due to broker. As of January 31, 2021, the outstanding balance on our line of credit was
$952,732 compared to $3,796,822 as of October 31, 2020.
On
April 25, 2017, we and OPTCO (collectively, the “Borrowers”) entered into an Amended and Restated Loan and Security
Agreement (the “A&R Loan Agreement”) and Amended and Restated Loan Facility (the “A&R Loan Facility”)
with Sterling National Bank (“Sterling”), which consolidated (i) the financing agreement between the Company and Sterling,
dated February 17, 2009, as modified, (the “Company Financing Agreement”) and (ii) the financing agreement between
us, as guarantor, OPTCO and Sterling, dated March 10, 2015 (the “OPTCO Financing Agreement”), amongst other things.
On
March 13, 2020, we reached an agreement for a new loan modification agreement and credit facility with Sterling. The terms of
the new agreement among other things: (i) provides for a new maturity date of March 31, 2022 and (ii) decreases the interest rate
per annum to LIBOR plus 1.75% (with such interest rate not to be lower than 3.50%).
Each
of the A&R Loan Facility and A&R Loan Agreement contains covenants, subject to certain exceptions, that place annual restrictions
on the Borrowers’ operations, including covenants relating to debt restrictions, capital expenditures, indebtedness, minimum
deposit restrictions, tangible net worth, net profit, leverage, employee loan restrictions, dividend and repurchase restrictions
(common stock and preferred stock), and restrictions on intercompany transactions. We were in compliance with all covenants as
of January 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020.
Each
of the A&R Loan Facility and the A&R Loan Agreement is secured by all of our tangible and intangible assets. Other than
as amended and restated by the A&R Loan Agreement, the Company Financing Agreement and the OPTCO Financing Agreement remains
in full force and effect.
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For
the three months ended January 31, 2021, our operating activities provided net cash of $2,765,148 as compared to the three months
ended January 31, 2020 when operating activities provided net cash of $1,720,450. The increased cash flow from operations for
the three months ended January 31, 2021 was primarily due to our inventory usage during the quarter and our net income.
For
the three months ended January 31, 2021, our investing activities used net cash of $66,151 as compared to the three months ended
January 31, 2020 when net cash used by investing activities was $71,974. The decrease in our uses of cash in investing activities
was due to our reduced purchases of machinery and equipment during the three months ended January 31, 2021.
For
the three months ended January 31, 2021, our financing activities used net cash of $2,845,336 compared to net cash used by financing
activities of $1,299,900 for the three months ended January 31, 2020. The change in cash flow from financing activities for the
three months ended January 31, 2021 was due to our increased principal payments on our credit line.
We
expect to fund our operations, including paying our liabilities, funding capital expenditures and making required payments on
our indebtedness, through March 16, 2022 with cash provided by operating activities and the use of our credit facility. In addition,
an increase in eligible accounts receivable and inventory would permit us to make additional borrowings under our line of credit.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial
condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital
resources that is material to investors.
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
Applicable.
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Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.