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 Operations,”
“Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this quarterly 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;
●
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;
●
our
expectations regarding, and the stability of, our supply chain, including potential shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery
of green coffee;
●
the
macro global economic environment;
●
the
imposition of tariffs;
●
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.
Overview
We
are an integrated wholesale coffee roaster and dealer primarily 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.
1
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.
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.
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.
On
November 6, 2024, Second Empire, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Secured Creditor Sale Agreement with Bridge
Business Credit, LLC (“Seller”). The sale was a Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) Chapter 9 sale to purchase equipment,
accounts receivable and inventory of Empire Coffee Company, Inc. (“Empire Coffee Company”).
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
There
have been no changes to our critical accounting policies during the three and six months ended April 30, 2025. Critical accounting policies
and the significant estimates in accordance with such policies are regularly discussed with our Audit Committee. Those policies are discussed
under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as in our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, each in
our 2024 10-K.
2
Three
Months Ended April 30, 2025 Compared to the Three Months Ended April 30, 2024
Net
Sales. Net sales totaled $23,320,061 for the three months ended April 30, 2025, an increase of $4,324,148, or 23%, from $18,995,913
for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in net sales was due to increased sales of our private label and Cafe Caribe
and Cafe Supremo products brands to our wholesale and retail customers.
Cost
of Sales. Cost of sales for the three months ended April 30, 2025 was $18,901,189, or 81.1% of net sales, as compared to $15,291,933,
or 80.5% of net sales, for the three months ended April 30, 2024, an increase of $3,609,256. Cost of sales consists primarily of the
cost of green coffee and packaging materials. The increase in cost of sales relates to the increase in net sales of our private label
and branded products to both wholesale and retail customers.
Gross
Profit. Gross profit for the three months ended April 30, 2025 amounted to $4,418,872 or 18.9% of net sales, as compared to $3,703,980
or 19.5% of net sales, for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in gross profits on a percentage and dollar basis was
attributable to the factors listed above.
Operating
Expenses. Total operating expenses decreased by $240,373 to $3,530,257 for the three months ended April 30, 2025 from $3,770,630
for the three months ended April 30, 2024. Selling and administrative expenses decreased by $342,595 and officers’ salaries increased
by $102,222. The decrease in selling and administrative expenses was due to lower payroll costs and professional fees.
Other
Income (Expense). Other income for the three months ended April 30, 2025 was $17,487, a decrease of $15,336 from other income
of $32,823 for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The change was attributable to a decrease in interest expense of $55,701.
Income
Taxes. Our expense for income taxes for the three months ended April 30, 2025 totaled $227,073 compared to our benefit of $77,632
for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The change was primarily attributable to the difference in the income for the quarter ended
April 30, 2025, versus the loss in the quarter ended April 30, 2024.
Net
Income (Loss). We had net income of $644,055, or $0.11 per share basic and diluted, for the three months ended April 30, 2025,
compared to a net loss of $21,841, or $0.00 per share basic and diluted, for the three months ended April 30, 2024.
Six
Months Ended April 30, 2025, Compared to the Six Months Ended April 30, 2024
Net
Sales. Net sales totaled $44,625,346 for the six months ended April 30, 2025, an increase of $6,089,031, or 16%, from $38,536,315
for the six months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in net sales was due to increased sales of our private label and Cafe Caribe and
Cafe Supremo products brands to our wholesale and retail customers.
Cost
of Sales. Cost of sales for the six months ended April 30, 2025 was $34,474,548, or 77.3% of net sales, as compared to $31,352,036,
or 81.4% of net sales, for the six months ended April 30, 2024. Cost of sales consists primarily of the cost of green coffee and packaging
materials and realized and unrealized gains or losses on hedging activity. This increase in gross margin was due to favorable green coffee
prices that were initiated during the six months ended April 30, 2025, for our roasted coffee customers and the cost of goods sold was
favorably impacted by improved inventory management, along with increased prices to both our wholesale and retail customers, reflecting
higher market conditions. Additionally, net sales increased due to higher sales of our private label and branded products to both wholesale
and retail customers.
Gross
Profit. Gross profit for the six months ended April 30, 2025 amounted to $10,150,798 or 22.8% of net sales, as compared to $7,184,279
or 18.6% of net sales, for the six months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in gross profits on a percentage basis was attributable
to the factors listed above.
Operating
Expenses. Total operating expenses increased by $1,037,134 to $7,671,152 for the six months ended April 30, 2025 from $6,634,018
for the six months ended April 30, 2024. Selling and administrative expenses increased by $896,956 and officers’ salaries increased
by $140,178. Operating expenses increased for the six months ended April 30, 2025 compared to the six months ended April 30, 2024 primarily
due to the acquisition of Second Empire adding approximately $1.3 to operating expenses for the six months ended.
Other
Income (Expense). Other expense for the six months ended April 30, 2025 was $49,170, a decrease of $107,203 from $156,373 for
the six months ended April 30, 2024. The decrease was attributable to a decrease in interest income of $34,390 and a decrease in our
interest expense of $141,564, during the six months ended April 30, 2024.
Income
Taxes. Our expense for income taxes for the six months ended April 30, 2025 totaled $633,165 compared to an expense of $64,705
for the six months ended April 30, 2024. The change was primarily attributable to the difference in the income for the six months ended
April 30, 2025 versus the income in the six months ended April 30, 2024.
Net
(Loss) Income. We had net income of $1,797,311 or $0.31 per share basic and diluted, for the six months ended April 30, 2025
compared to net income of $329,183, or $0.06 per share basic and diluted for the six months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in net
income was due primarily to the reasons described above.
Liquidity,
Capital Resources and Going Concern
As
of April 30, 2025, we had working capital of $25,831,578, which represented a $965,841 increase from our working capital of $21,526,983
as of October 31, 2024. Our working capital increased primarily due to the $1,509,920 increase in inventory, a $1,221,965 increase in
due from broker, and a $779,055 increase in accounts receivable offset by a $3,000,000 increase on the line of credit.
On
April 25, 2017, we and one of our subsidiaries, Organic Products Trading Company, LLC (“OPTCO” and together with us, collectively
referred to herein as 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 was later acquired by Webster Financial Corp. (“Webster”), which consolidated (i) the financing agreement between us
and Sterling, dated February 17, 2009, as modified, and (ii) the financing agreement between us, as guarantor, OPTCO and Sterling, dated
March 10, 2015, amongst other things.
On
March 17, 2022, we reached an agreement for a new loan modification agreement and credit facility which extended the maturity date to
June 29, 2022. The facility was then approved for a two-year extension. All other terms of the A&R Loan Agreement and A&R Loan
Facility remained the same.
On
June 28, 2022, we reached an agreement for a new loan modification agreement and credit facility with Webster. The terms of the new agreement,
among other things: (i) provided for a new maturity date of June 30, 2024, and (ii) changed the interest rate per annum to SOFR plus
1.75% (with such interest rate not to be lower than 3.50%). All other terms of the A&R Loan Agreement and A&R Loan Facility remained
the same.
3
On
March 15, 2023, the A&R Loan Agreement was also modified to, among other things: (i) provide for a requirement for subordination
agreements, if necessary, (ii) change the terms of transactions with affiliates from a dollar limitation to allowable in the ordinary
course of business, and (iii) establish a new covenant for a fixed charge coverage ratio. As further explained in Note 6 to the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements, we are required to maintain certain financial covenants with respect to our line of credit
agreement. We were not in compliance with these requirements as of October 31, 2023. We have since received a waiver from the lender
on May 24, 2024 and are in compliance with all requirements.
On
June 27, 2024, the Borrowers entered into the Tenth Loan Modification Agreement with Webster which amended the A&R Loan Agreement
to, among other things: (i) provide for a new loan maturity date of June 29, 2025, (ii) provide that the applicable margin requirement
for any revolving loan outstanding under the A&R Loan Agreement to 2.25%, (iii) provide that the maximum facility amount shall be
$10,000,000 and (iv) to adjust certain definitions and terms related to the borrowing base and leverage ratios applicable to the A&R
Loan Agreement.
On
April 17, 2025, the Borrowers entered into the Eleventh Loan Modification Agreement with Webster which (i) amended the A&R Loan Agreement
to provide for a new loan maturity date of June 28, 2026 and (ii) provided limited consent for the Company to declare dividends to shareholders
for its fiscal year ending October 31, 2025.
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. The outstanding balance on our line of credit was $3,000,000 and
$0 as of April 30, 2025 and October 31, 2024, respectively.
For
the six months ended April 30, 2025, our operating activities used cash of $1,555,954 as compared to the six months ended April 30, 2024
when operating activities provided cash of $3,390,694. The decrease in cash flow from operations was primarily due to the increase in
inventory from October 31, 2024 to April 30, 2025. Non-cash charges, including depreciation and amortization, unrealized gain on commodities,
amortization of right-of-use assets, and deferred income taxes, resulted in cash used of $603,581 for the six months ended April 30,
2025 compared to non-cash charges provided of $24,165 for the six months ended April 30, 2024.
For
the six months ended April 30, 2025, our investing activities used cash of $992,907 as compared to the six months ended April 30, 2024
when net cash provided in investing activities was $2,925,927. The decrease in our cash provided by investing activities was due to the
proceeds from the sale of an investment of $3,150,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2024.
For
the six months ended April 30, 2025, our financing activities provided net cash of $3,000,000 compared to net cash used in financing
activities of $6,622,909 for the six months ended April 30, 2024. The change in cash flow from financing activities for the six months
ended April 30, 2025 was primarily due to our credit line activity.
We
expect to fund our operations, including paying our liabilities, funding capital expenditures and making required payments on our indebtedness,
through at least the next twelve months from the date these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, 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.
4
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
applicable.
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