BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Annie's, Inc. (NYSE: BNNY), a leading natural and organic food company, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Highlights:


    --  Net sales were $43.3 million in the first quarter, an increase of 10.1%;
        consumption grew in the high teens(1)
    --  Net loss for the quarter was $0.07 per share; adjusted net loss was
        $0.06 per share
    --  Results included a $0.03 per share stock-based compensation charge
        related to prior periods and $0.03 per share of unanticipated
        professional services fees; excluding these items, the business
        delivered a breakeven performance for the quarter on adjusted net
        income, ahead of expectations
    --  Reaffirms full-year guidance, including adjusted net sales growth of 18%
        to 20% and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.88 to $0.95

"We remain on track to deliver our top- and bottom-line growth targets for the year. In the first quarter, consumer trends remained strong and we made good progress in our efforts to improve execution in a number of key areas," commented John Foraker, CEO of Annie's. "As expected, financial results were impacted by customer inventory reductions and a significant increase in organic wheat costs. Underlying operating performance was ahead of expectations, but was offset by stock-based compensation expenses related to prior periods and higher-than-expected professional services fees.

"As we look ahead to the remainder of fiscal 2015, we are confident in our ability to deliver much improved financial results. Our strategies position us well for solid volume growth, driven by base business growth and strong innovation, and we expect margins in the second half of the year to benefit from price realization and important operational improvements. We feel confident that the trends that have supported the rapid growth of our business will continue to drive our performance long-term. Our Board and management continue to be intensely focused on taking all steps necessary to deliver on Annie's substantial potential," concluded Foraker.

First Quarter Results

For the first quarter, Annie's reported net sales of $43.3 million, up 10.1% year-over-year. Sales related to planned contract manufacturing revenues associated with the Joplin acquisition contributed year-over-year growth of $2.0 million, or 5.2%. Net sales from the base business grew by $1.9 million, or 4.9%, led by double-digit growth in snacks. Base business performance was impacted by a 45% decline in sales to the Company's largest customer as part of its inventory optimization program. Net sales to other customers increased 20%, reflecting continued strong growth trends in conventional channels.

Gross margin for the quarter was 28.2%, compared to an adjusted gross margin of 38.8% in last year's first quarter. Gross margin performance was impacted by higher commodity costs, particularly organic wheat, as well as higher trade spending and mix changes, including the impact of the Joplin supply agreement.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were 32.7% of net sales, while adjusted SG&A expenses increased by 360 basis points to 32.3% of net sales. The increase in SG&A as a percentage of net sales reflects higher professional services expense, primarily audit, legal and consulting fees related to addressing the material weakness and associated legal matters, and higher stock-based compensation expense resulting from a $0.9 million charge related to prior years. Excluding the impact of both of these items, adjusted SG&A percentage was modestly favorable to the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was approximately breakeven, compared to $4.6 million in last year's first quarter.

Net loss for the quarter was $1.2 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $0.13 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Adjusted net loss was $1.1 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to adjusted net income of $2.4 million, or $0.14 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Excluding the stock-based compensation and professional services items mentioned above, the business delivered a breakeven performance at the adjusted net income level.

Conference Call Information for Today, August 7, 2014
Annie's will host a conference call and live webcast today, August 7, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET). The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-719-9788, or 1-719-325-4838 (outside the U.S. and Canada). A live webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of Annie's corporate website at www.annies.com and via replay beginning approximately two hours after the completion of the call for 90 days. An audio replay of the call will also be available to all interested parties beginning at approximately 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, August 7, 2014 until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820 (outside the U.S. and Canada) and entering pass code 7199090#.

About Annie's
Annie's, Inc. (NYSE: BNNY) is a natural and organic food company that offers great-tasting products in large packaged food categories. Annie's products are made without artificial flavors, synthetic colors, and preservatives regularly used in many conventional packaged foods. Additionally, Annie's sources ingredients so as to avoid synthetic growth hormones and genetically modified food ingredients. Today, Annie's offers over 145 products and is present in over 35,000 retail locations in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1989, Annie's is committed to operating in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable manner. For more information, visit www.annies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and the accompanying conference call that are not historical facts, including any statements about the Company's targets, beliefs, plans, opportunities or expectations, such as its expectations for the remainder of fiscal 2015, growth prospects, margin improvement, price realization and operational improvements, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek" and similar terms or phrases.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the accompanying conference call are based on management's current expectations, plans, known information, estimates and projections, and are subject to uncertainty, changes in circumstances and significant risks. We cannot assure you that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated.

Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the accompanying conference call due to changes in economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We believe that these factors include those disclosed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014 filed with the SEC on June 2, 2014, including risks relating to implementation of our growth strategy; our brand; our reputation; product liability claims; competition; new product introductions; ingredient and packaging costs and availability; a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; reliance on a limited number of distributors, retailers, contract manufacturers and third-party suppliers and an outside warehouse facility; our acquisition of Joplin Plant; economic disruptions; changes in consumer preferences; intellectual property and related disputes; regulatory compliance and independent certification; product labeling and marketing; transportation; our supply-chain; productivity initiatives; our and our customers' inventory levels; seasonality; employee recruitment and retention; information technology systems; and our revolving credit facility. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release or the accompanying conference call speaks only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted gross margin, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share are not financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. As used in this press release: (1) adjusted gross margin represents gross margin adjusted for impact on gross margin due to frozen pizza recall; (2) adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses reflect selling, general and administrative expenses adjusted for impact on selling general and administrative expenses due to frozen pizza recall, costs associated with filing of a registration statement, and costs associated with the Joplin plant acquisition; (3) EBITDA represents net income (loss) plus interest expense, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization; (4) adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for impact on cost of sales, and selling, general and administrative expenses due to frozen pizza recall; costs associated with the Joplin plant acquisition; costs associated with filing of a registration statement and stock-based compensation; (5) adjusted net income (loss) represents net income (loss) adjusted for impact on cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses and provision for income taxes due to frozen pizza; costs associated with Joplin plant acquisition, costs associated with filing of a registration statement and the provision for (benefit from) income taxes on these; and (6) adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share represents adjusted net income (loss) divided by weighted average diluted shares of common stock.

We present adjusted gross margin, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share because we believe these measures provide additional metrics to evaluate our operations and, when considered with both our GAAP results and the related reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, provide a more complete understanding of our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. We use adjusted gross margin, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share together with financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP to assess our operating performance, to provide meaningful comparisons of operating performance across periods, to enhance our understanding of our core operating performance and to compare our performance to that of our peers and competitors. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors in assessing the operating performance of our business without the effect of the items described above. Adjusted gross margin, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share are subject to inherent limitation as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management in determining how they are formulated. Further, our computation of these non-GAAP measures is likely to differ from methods used by other companies in computing similarly titled or defined terms, limiting the usefulness of these measures. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to GAAP measures and do not purport to be alternatives to either net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We urge investors to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

(1)Source: Syndicated and proprietary retail sales data for most applicable 12-week period.

(2 )Adjusted gross margin, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share are non-GAAP financial measures and must be read in conjunction with the important information about these measures and the full reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measures set forth below.


                                          Annie's, Inc.

                              Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                           (unaudited)

                       (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)



                              Three Months Ended June 30,
                              ---------------------------

                                                       2014                     2013
                                                       ----                     ----

    Net sales                                       $43,297                  $39,318

    Cost of
     sales                                           31,069                   24,278
                                                     ------                   ------

    Gross
     profit                                          12,228                   15,040

    Selling,
     general
     and
     administrative
     expenses                                        14,176                   11,364
                                                     ------                   ------

    Income
     (loss)
     from
     operations                                     (1,948)                   3,676

    Interest
     expense                                           (91)                    (71)

    Other
     income
     (expense),
     net                                                 15                       26
                                                        ---                      ---

    Income
     (loss)
     before
     provision
     for
     (benefit
     from)
     income
     taxes                                          (2,024)                   3,631

    Provision
     for
     (benefit
     from)
     income
     taxes                                            (804)                   1,459
                                                       ----                    -----


    Net
     income
     (loss)                                        $(1,220)                  $2,172
                                                    =======                   ======

    Earnings
     (loss)
     per
     share                                          $(0.07)                   $0.13
         -Basic


         -Diluted                                   $(0.07)                   $0.13
                                                     ======                    =====

    Weighted
     average
     shares
     of
     common
     stock
     outstanding
     used in
     computing                                   17,059,147               16,869,557
         earnings
          (loss)
          per
          share
              -Basic


              -Diluted                           17,059,147               17,353,222
                                                 ==========               ==========

    Non-GAAP
     results:


    Adjusted
     net
     income
     (loss)                                        $(1,098)                  $2,355
                                                    =======                   ======


    Adjusted
     diluted
     earnings
     (loss)
     per
     share                                          $(0.06)                   $0.14
                                                     ======                    =====


    Adjusted
     EBITDA                                           $(31)                  $4,598
                                                       ====                   ======


                                                        Annie's, Inc.

                                            Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                         (unaudited)

                                                       (in thousands)


                                                            June 30,              March 31,

                                                                         2014                    2014
                                                                         ----                    ----

    ASSETS

    CURRENT ASSETS:

         Cash                                                          $1,644                 $17,308

         Accounts receivable                                           17,288                  18,324

         Inventory                                                     27,719                  18,489

         Deferred tax assets                                            4,077                   3,312

         Income tax receivable                                          2,472                       -

         Prepaid expenses and other current
          assets                                                        4,661                   4,277
                                                                        -----                   -----


              Total current assets                                     57,861                  61,710

    Restricted cash                                                         -                    300

    Property and equipment, net                                        13,215                   6,620

    Goodwill                                                           32,105                  30,809

    Intangible assets, net                                              1,070                   1,055

    Deferred tax assets, long-term                                      4,265                   3,039

    Other non-current assets                                              105                     108
                                                                          ---                     ---


             Total assets                                            $108,621                $103,641
                                                                     ========                ========


    LIABILITIES AND  STOCKHOLDERS'
     EQUITY

    CURRENT LIABILITIES:

         Accounts payable                                              $7,844                  $7,144

         Accrued liabilities                                           12,023                  10,680
                                                                       ------                  ------


              Total current liabilities                                19,867                  17,824

         Other non-current liabilities                                  2,881                     905
                                                                        -----                     ---


              Total liabilities                                        22,748                  18,729
                                                                       ------                  ------

    Commitments and contingencies

    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Common stock                                                           17                      17

    Additional paid-in capital                                         99,912                  97,731

    Accumulated deficit                                              (14,056)               (12,836)
                                                                      -------                 -------


    Total stockholders' equity                                         85,873                  84,912
                                                                       ------                  ------


    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                                          $108,621                $103,641
                                                                     ========                ========


                                                  Annie's, Inc.

                                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                   (unaudited)

                                                  (in thousands)



                                             Three Months Ended June
                                                       30,
                                            -----------------------

                                                                2014                  2013
                                                                ----                  ----

    CASH FLOWS FROM
     OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES:

    Net Income (loss)                                       $(1,220)               $2,172

    Adjustments to
     reconcile net
     income (loss) to
     net cash provided
     by
         (used in)
          operating
          activities:

         Depreciation and
          amortization                                           546                   309

         Stock-based
          compensation                                         1,223                   293

         Excess tax benefit
          from stock-based
          compensation                                         (321)                (370)

         Accretion of
          imputed interest
          on purchase of
          intangible asset                                        36                    36

         Deferred taxes                                      (1,242)                  144

         Changes in
          operating assets
          and liabilities:

              Accounts
               receivable                                      1,036                 4,328

              Inventory                                      (7,735)              (3,326)

              Income tax
               receivable                                    (2,472)                  588

              Prepaid expenses,
               other current and
               non-current
               assets                                          (478)                1,418

              Accounts payable                                   385               (1,867)

              Accrued expenses
               and other non-
               current
               liabilities                                     1,982                 (583)
                                                               -----                  ----


              Net cash provided
               by (used in)
               operating
               activities                                    (8,260)                3,142
                                                              ------                 -----


    CASH FLOWS FROM
     INVESTING
     ACTIVITIES:

         Acquisition of
          Joplin Plant                                       (7,508)                    -

         Purchase of
          property and
          equipment                                          (1,221)                (272)

         Purchase of
          intangible assets                                     (30)                    -

         Restricted cash                                         300                     -
                                                                 ---                   ---


              Net cash provided
               by (used in)
               investing
               activities                                    (8,459)                (272)
                                                              ------                  ----


    CASH FLOWS FROM
     FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES:

         Proceeds from
          credit facility                                      2,877                 4,449

         Payments under
          credit facility                                    (2,877)             (11,449)

         Excess tax benefit
          from stock-based
          compensation                                           321                   370

         Proceeds from
          exercises of
          stock options                                          734                   392
                                                                 ---                   ---


              Net cash provided
               by (used in)
               financing
               activities                                      1,055               (6,238)
                                                               -----                ------


    NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE) IN
     CASH                                                   (15,664)              (3,368)


    CASH-Beginning of
     period                                                   17,308                 4,930
                                                              ------                 -----


    CASH-End of period                                        $1,644                $1,562
                                                              ======                ======


                                                                                                                                                                                                            Annie's, Inc.

                                                                                                                               Reconciliation of Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses to Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) to Net Income (Loss)

                                                                                                                                                                           Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share to Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share

                                                                                                                                                                                                             (unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                                                          (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)



                                                                                      Three Months Ended June 30, 2014                                         Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
                                                                                      --------------------------------                                         --------------------------------

                                                                                            As Reported                  Voluntary                                             Other                                           As Adjusted                                    As Reported                   Voluntary               Other                 As Adjusted
                                                                                                                       Product Recall                                       Adjustments                                                                                                                  Product Recall          Adjustments
                                                                                                                       --------------                                       -----------                                                                                                                  --------------          -----------

    Net sales                                                                                              $43,297          $                    -                                $                -                                          $43,297                                          $39,318          $            -           $       -                       $39,318

    Cost of sales                                                                                           31,069                              18                                                  -                                           31,087                                           24,278                   (217)                   -                        24,061
                                                                                                            ------                             ---                                                ---                                           ------                                           ------                    ----                  ---                        ------

    Gross profit                                                                                            12,228                            (18)                                                 -                                           12,210                                           15,040                     217                    -                        15,257

    Selling, general and administrative expenses                                                            14,176                               -                                             (203)           (1)                             13,973                                           11,364                    (43)                (34)    (2)                 11,287
                                                                                                            ------                             ---                                              ----                                            ------                                           ------                     ---                  ---                         ------

    Income (loss) from operations                                                                          (1,948)                           (18)                                               203                                           (1,763)                                           3,676                     260                   34                          3,970
                                                                                                            ======                             ===                                                ===                                            ======                                            =====                     ===                  ===                          =====



    Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income
     taxes                                                                                                 (2,024)                           (18)                                               203                                           (1,839)                                           3,631                     260                   34                          3,925

    Provision for (benefit from) income taxes                                                                (804)                            (7)                                                70                                             (741)                                           1,459                     104                    7                          1,570
                                                                                                              ----                             ---                                                ---                                              ----                                            -----                     ---                  ---                          -----


    Net income (loss)                                                                                     $(1,220)                          $(11)                                              $133                                          $(1,098)                                          $2,172                    $156                  $27                         $2,355
                                                                                                           =======                            ====                                               ====                                           =======                                           ======                    ====                  ===                         ======



    Earnings (loss) per share                                                                              $(0.07)                                                                                                                                                                             $0.13
         -Basic


         -Diluted                                                                                          $(0.07)                        $(0.00)                                             $0.01                                           $(0.06)                                           $0.13                   $0.01                $0.00                          $0.14
                                                                                                            ======                          ======                                              =====                                            ======                                            =====                   =====                =====                          =====


    Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding used
     in computing                                                                                       17,059,147                                                                                                                                                                         16,869,557
         earnings (loss) per share
              -Basic


              -Diluted                                                                                  17,059,147                                                                                                                         17,059,147                                       17,353,222                                                                17,353,222
                                                                                                        ==========                                                                                                                         ==========                                       ==========                                                                ==========

    ________________________

    (1)  Represents costs associated with our acquisition of the Joplin Plant.

    (2)  Represents costs associated with the filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 on behalf of Solera.


                                                                                                          Annie's, Inc.

                                                                                Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)

                                                                                                           (unaudited)

                                                                                                         (in thousands)



                                                                                                                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                                                       June 30,
                                                                                                                                                    ------------------

                                                                                                                                                                   2014    2013
                                                                                                                                                                   ----    ----


    Net income (loss)                                                                                                                                          $(1,220) $2,172

         Interest expense                                                                                                                                            91      71

         Provision for (benefit from) income taxes                                                                                                                (804)  1,459

         Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                                              546     309
                                                                                                                                                                    ---     ---


    EBITDA                                                                                                                                                      (1,387)  4,011

         (Benefit to)/ incremental cost of sales related to product recall                                                                                         (18)    217

         (Benefit to)/ incremental selling, general and administrative expenses                                                                                       -     43
              related to product recall

         Costs associated with acquisition of Joplin Plant                                                                                                          151       -

         Shelf registration filing costs                                                                                                                              -     34

         Stock-based compensation                                                                                                                                 1,223     293
                                                                                                                                                                  -----     ---


    Adjusted EBITDA                                                                                                                                               $(31) $4,598
                                                                                                                                                                   ====  ======


                                           Annie's, Inc.

                                   Net Sales by Product Category

                                            (unaudited)

                                           (in thousands)



                                        Three Months Ended
                                             June 30,
                                       -------------------

                                                        2014        2013
                                                        ----        ----

     Meals                                           $17,545     $16,672

     Snacks                                           17,861      15,934

     Dressings and condiments                          5,852       6,712

     Sales to Safeway under supply
      agreement                                        2,039           -
                                                       -----         ---


                                                     $43,297     $39,318
                                                     =======     =======

CONTACT:

Ed Aaron
510-558-7574
303-868-5551
ir@annies.com

SOURCE Annie's Inc.