Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. Experiences Growth in Q3 2024

Growth Highlights for Innovative Food Holdings, Inc.

Key achievements from Q3:

• Reported revenue reached $17.0 million, indicating a slight increase of 0.3% compared to the same period last year.
• Specialty Foodservice revenue observed a growth of 5.5% year-over-year, with a notable increase exceeding 25% in the current quarter.
• Gross margin slipped to 25.2%, reflecting a decrease of 158 basis points from Q3 2023.
• GAAP net income from continuing operations was $1.3 million, marking a significant recovery from $0.1 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
• Adjusted net income showed improvement to $737 thousand, surpassing $528 thousand reported in Q3 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $997 thousand, an increase over the previous year's $921 thousand.
• Ongoing acquisition plans for Denver's Golden Organics are progressing smoothly, enhancing future growth prospects.
• The performance of the new retail business is set to begin influencing revenue in Q4 of the current fiscal year.

Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: IVFH), known for its gourmet specialty foods distributed to professional chefs, proudly reported its financial performance for the third quarter of 2024.

Chief Executive Officer Bill Bennett expressed optimism regarding the return to growth for the company’s core specialty foodservice operations. "As shared last quarter, we anticipated positive results, and Q3 indeed affirmed our growth trajectory, showcasing a 5.5% increase compared to the previous year. This quarter marks a pivotal moment as our strategic initiatives begin to yield results. Notably, our focused growth channels contributed approximately $809 thousand to our growth momentum, while our traditional drop-ship operations faced minor declines compared to Q2," he stated. "Despite setbacks from the discontinued direct-to-consumer segment, we succeeded in growing our overall revenue by 0.3%, which is promising."

Bennett further commented on the future of the retail business, stating that early advancements are promising. "Even though our retail segment contributed modestly this quarter due to its ten-test-store footprint, we anticipate a significant ramp-up towards several hundred stores that will reflect positively in our Q4 financials. This new business avenue poses exciting opportunities that we are beginning to invest in, leading to initial operational costs impacting our gross margins in Q3. However, our ongoing cost-reducing strategies allowed SG&A expenses to drop by $482 thousand compared to the previous year, despite heightened investments in growth strategies."

In terms of financial results, Innovative Food Holdings reported revenue growth of 0.3% for Q3 2024, driven primarily by a substantial rise in the Specialty Foodservice segment, which grew by 5.5%. This uplift contrasts with a notable decline in eCommerce operations, partially attributable to the transition away from direct-to-consumer sales.

Our revenue categorization overhaul is currently underway, aiming to better reflect our repositioned operational focus as a supportive strategy for upcoming quarters. As the company remains focused on its core business segments, the new categorization will better capture the evolving business landscape.

Financial Summary

Gross margins during the period dipped to 25.2%, down from 26.8% in the same quarter last year. This decline, albeit small, indicates continued stabilization as we minimize our eCommerce operations. During Q3, we also re-established favorable shipping arrangements, which considerably curbed our logistics expenses, leading to improvements in overall efficiency.

When analyzing the Selling, General, and Administrative expenses (SG&A), the company noted a reduction of $0.6 million (14.1%), bringing these costs down to $3.6 million. As a fraction of sales, SG&A decreased from 24.5% in Q3 2023 to 21.0% this quarter. This decrease is primarily linked to reduced non-cash share-based compensations and savings from operational efficiencies, even as expenses associated with legal fees related to both the iGourmet sale and the upcoming Golden Organics acquisition affected the overall figures.

Throughout Q3, we achieved GAAP net income from continuing operations of $1.3 million, significantly improving from $123 thousand the previous year. Adjusted net income for this quarter was reported at $737 thousand, translating to $0.014 per fully diluted share compared to $0.011 a year earlier. Similarly, Adjusted EBITDA climbed to $997 thousand from $921 thousand, reflecting our operational strength.

Outlook and Investor Engagement

As we approach the end of Q4, our optimism for continued growth remains strong. The company anticipates recording enhanced performance in foodservice as we scale operations with new partners while capitalizing on our expanded distributor relationships and surging Amazon sales. Bennett highlighted the potential of the ongoing acquisition of Golden Organics, further embedding transformative growth into the company's future story.

Further details regarding the third quarter results were discussed in a conference call on the date of the report release. This investor call provided an opportunity for interested parties to engage with company management and pose questions directly, fostering transparency and communication as the company navigates the complexities of the food sector and development initiatives aimed at increasing shareholder value.

About Innovative Food Holdings, Inc.

Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. specializes in providing a selection of gourmet foods and connects artisans with chefs throughout the nation. They curate unique culinary items that are often difficult to source, aiming to elevate dining experiences and enhance the food industry landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key financial figures from Q3 2024 for Innovative Food Holdings, Inc.?

In Q3 2024, Innovative Food Holdings reported a revenue of $17.0 million, a net income of $1.3 million, and an adjusted EBITDA of $997 thousand.

How has Innovative Food Holdings managed its expenses in 2024?

The company effectively reduced its Selling, General, and Administrative expenses by $482 thousand in Q3 2024 compared to the previous year, citing operational efficiencies as a critical factor.

What growth strategies is Innovative Food Holdings pursuing?

Innovative Food Holdings is actively expanding its specialty foodservice operations while transitioning to a more robust retail model, anticipating significant contributions in upcoming quarters.

What was the impact of eCommerce on Q3 2024 revenues?

The eCommerce segment saw a decline of 38.6% during Q3, influenced by the company's strategic shift away from direct consumer sales.

How can investors participate in discussions regarding the company’s performance?

Investors can join regular conference calls held by the company to discuss performance metrics and future strategies directly with management.

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